BARRY MCKENNA 01.10.

10

DESIGN CHARRETTE
Client’s Design Aspirations

As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) increasingly provides for our

thirst for knowledge, the role of civic institutions such as the library becomes
uncertain. However, in the placeless world that is electronic data, image and identity
becomes reinforced as the real world of place takes on a greater meaning1. I would
argue therefore that, as civic buildings contribute to a societies identity, they hold an
even greater significance in the digital world of today than ever before. However,
regardless of their importance as social symbols, there is little argument against the
fact that institutions such as the library need to evolve with advancing ICT in order to
provide for the developing needs of a digital society.

In Ireland, branch libraries were introduced during the early 20th century. These were
small understated buildings that are now unable to adapt to the changing needs of
their communities as towns expanded and developed.

It is my belief that, as digital media takes dominance over books, the library can
embrace this so called threat from ICT by liberating itself from its old design
stereotype. This stereotype saw the library’s main function as being a repository of
knowledge. This liberation will give the library a greater ability to provide for today’s
society. Rather than compete with ICT, libraries can work with it by educating people
in a new culture of use. This is especially the case in terms of the ICT driven Digital
Divide. This is a divide between the ICT have’s and have not’s. To merely supply
disadvantaged societies with the hardware required isn’t the answer. These societies
need to develop a culture of use which can only be done by educating them on the
capabilities and possibilities of the Internet thus providing them with an awareness
and understanding through participation and experience; “Simply making computers
available and providing some kind of electronic access to civic information and
discourse is not enough to create successful public cyberspace. Just as parks and
squares must be pleasant and welcoming to a diverse population in order to function
effectively, so must the interface to public areas of cyberspace… People must also
feel secure and comfortable – not subject to hostility abuse, or attack”2. Even for
people who are computer literate, the tough economic times today mean that many
people will not be able to afford to keep up with advancing technologies, especially
in a consumer market where the latest technologies are almost redundant within a
matter of months.

The client, Seymour Novells, wishes to create a new type of public institution and he
believes that ICT can provide the ideal framework for this new development; “ICT
provides a virtual open to all environment where people can learn, express opinion,
exchange ideas, be entertained, ‘hang out’ etc. Can architecture provide a similar
physical environment?”

I believe that it can and the answer is in the form of a new public institution that
provides a hybrid of uses by bringing library, education and leisure together in a single
building; a place for exploration and learning with the use of all media types to
expand your horizons. I use the archetype of the library as a starting point as the
name “library” already has a cultural and historical significance with society. It is
universally recognised as a place for the people, and is seen as one of the few


























































1
Edwards,
B.
(2009)
Libraries
and
Learning
Resource
Centres,
Oxford:
Architectural
Printing
Press
p.257

2
Mitchell,
W.
(1996)
City
of
Bits:
Space,
Place,
and
the
Infobahn,
Massachusetts:
MIT
Press.
P.128

 BARRY MCKENNA 01.10.10

remaining free public spaces. Therefore I believe that it is important that this new
institution retains the library label in order to identify the institution as a free public
space and one that is for the people; a living room for the city. Even when most of
the information libraries contain is available online, they will still remain places for
reference and study and above all, places of social encounter and exchange.

This new institution is a centre that encourages community interaction and one that is
people orientated; where local traditions and identities are celebrated in a vibrant
and stimulating environment. It is also a place that maintains areas that are symbolic
to what a library provides i.e. quiet sanctuaries for people where concentrated
reading and learning are possible.

In order to encourage increased usage and to attract new users, this new civic
institution must convey a sense of openness through greater transparency and
permeability. It should become a social and intellectual commons uniting people of
similar and conflicting interests. This is similar to how the agora or fountain served as a
place of chance encounters; creating places where people assembled to discuss all
kinds of topics: business, politics, current events, or the nature of the universe and the
divine.

It must also address the growing needs of its community by providing a diversity of
facilities such as lecture room for night classes, music rooms that provide instruments
etc, exhibition spaces, cafes and to alse provide settings for musical performances in
the shape of box theatres etc.

The institute should be seen as an incubator for aspiring local businesses. By providing
resources such as conference facilities etc, the library can help them to grow into
successful local enterprises that will ultimately benefit the local economy.

The projected image of the institution is also very important as it needs to be seen as
a place that provides for a diversity of user. Teenagers may seek lively, stimulating
spaces where computer access is fundamental in comparison to older users who
may seek a more tranquil, comfortable, book-based experience. The proposed
institution must take into account the demands of each type of user and provide for
them accordingly.

A successful institution will be an imaginatively designed and responsive public

space; one that promotes greater social cohesion and a stronger sense of
community, civic pride and local identity.