courtesy Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau

The cultural importance of the public library lies within the inherent power of the knowledge which it holds. This knowledge can be a significant life-altering force for the patrons of the library and furthermore within the larger community which it serves. The methods by which this information is contained and transmitted are continually evolving, yet the correlation between access to such information and issues such as upward social mobility and increased life opportunity are evident. The Daegu Gosan Public Library, like many libraries, stands as the physical manifestation of the concept of shared knowledge. As such, it is temple of knowledge, honoring the book as the foundation media of information communication, and making way for the new learning trends that result from the current digital movement. The library provides opportunities for intellectual trade and growth both analog and digital within the Suseong-gu community. Furthermore, it celebrates Daegu as a place rich with culture and an evolving demographic that places high value on the acquisition of knowledge.

courtesy Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau

Temple of knowledge

Similar to the temples of the varied religions, the Gosan Library celebrates a particular belief system, a particular way life, the belief in the power and importance of knowledge. The library offers the opportunity for intellectual and cultural exchange in ways both traditional as well as those less often associated with the library typology. The book stacks are consolidated into a single mass. The clear glass object creates an activated tribute to printed literature as the foundation of information transmission. In honoring the written and bound knowledge in this way, a more open floor plan is created for related program uses. The digital data space, reading room, children's area and other programs flow off of a large atrium space providing a more flexible environment for exchange. These spaces are hence able to able to adapt to the evolving digital media to maintain a quality learning environment.

courtesy Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau

Cultural Heart

The Gosan Library is also the cultural hub with the area. Its proximity to the local subway station and a large public park make it a prime location for cultural exchange. Both passive and formal manners of interaction are facilitated by this public space. To reinforce this the northeast corner of the site pulls the landscape from the park under the building, extending the public space into the site. The resulting plaza creates a partially covered space which will be utilized and activated by the local communities. This sunken garden provides valuable natural daylight to the building functions located below grade. The life-long learning center and multi-purpose spaces surround this plaza providing easy access for the community. Additional terraces at the second level reading area and the roof connect the building back to the park and existing context.

courtesy Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau

courtesy Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau

+ Project facts

Location: Daegu, Korea
Area: 3200 mk
Year: 2012
Architects: Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau
Links:
www.onebynine.com
www.jasoneaster.co/

http://www.frislycolop.com/

+ All images and drawings courtesy Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, Adrian Yau

courtesy Unit Arkitektur

Billdal, 20 km south of Gothenburg, is a community with a large amount of detached housing, situated within commuter distance to central Gothenburg. The area's main attraction is truly the sea. Here, the horizon is visible from shore, while further north the vastness of the Northern Sea is obstructed by islands in the southern archipelago. Just next to the shoreline, but tucked away behind a hill that partly eliminates sea view, is the property of this object. The site was not without challenges with its difficult ground conditions, and surrounding large neighbouring villas. To offer impeccable living conditions on the site, the house had to adapt to the prevailing conditions.

courtesy Unit Arkitektur

Within the Japanese art of gardening, there is an expression, "shakkei", which roughly translates into borrowing a view. It is used to describe the process of capturing different views; mountains in the distance, the nature up close, the sky above, and the earth and water beneath. It is a method used to make small and narrow gardens appear larger and richer in crowded parts of Japan. In essence: capture the nature alive! The situation in Billdal reminded of Japanese monastery gardens – crowded spaces with only shattered views reaching through the surrounding buildings. By a conscious placement of walls and windows these slots of the most attractive views has been borrowed and made the most out of. By necessity, this has been the established principle in this project and enables the occupants to feel like living in the middle of nature, even in site surrounded by neighbouring houses.

Approaching the lot, one drives along a 15 meter long road in between two neighbouring villas before reaching the house. When parking the car, a narrow gap captures the view of a large tree. The entrance of the house is accentuated by a 5 cm raised concrete slab leading up to the main door by a small incline. When walking up the ramp one perceives a notion of the much brighter central courtyard situated on the left as light is filtered through a wall of fir boards. This is another central part of the drama embedded in the art of Japanese gardening. First sense, then hold and finally experience. Reaching the entry door, the inner courtyard unfolds to the left.

courtesy Unit Arkitektur

The building is in three stories, where as the top floor is rotated by 90 degrees around the areas with the connecting shafts. In doing so, the house turns its back towards the neighbours. This is amplified with great heights and sparse amounts of windows. Towards the courtyard, a more intimate scale is applied and the facades are fully glazed. Because of the complicated geometries, the detailing is kept simple with a façade in ferric sulphate processed whitewood and mounts and fenestrations are in anodised aluminium.

The upper level holds three bedrooms and a bathroom. All semi-public spaces are located at the entry level. These spaces flow out to the courtyard through large sliding doors. The basement may be furnished into a separate unit or function as a recreation room.

courtesy Unit Arkitektur

The interior concrete slabs are precisely polished in order to achieve a shiny surface that does not demand any further cover. Apart from the floor, white painted plaster dominates all surfaces. The natural center point of the house is the staircase that the whole building revolves around. At the top of the staircase there are large windows facing west, making the entire stair appear like a solar periscope that brings down the light.

Regarding the isolated building volumes, the façade material consists of 22 mm fur panel on top of 22 mm lath. The panelling is treated with ferric sulphate.

+ Project facts

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Architects: Unit Arkitektur AB (unitark.se)
Design Principal: Mikael Frej + Klas Moberg
Project Architects: Frans Magnusson
Floor area: 270 sqm
Project year: completed 2012
Vent: DeltaTe
Statics: RH Byggteknik

+ All images and drawings courtesy Unit Arkitektur