Daegu Gosan Public Library - Antonino Davide Siragusa, Marco Trovato, Luigi Failla, Pierluigi Turco, Alessio Calamia, Francesco Paolo Testagrossa

Introduction The project of the Public Library of Daegu starts with the synthesis of two important principles: create a “Urban Square”, a continuation of the outside green space and create a “Urban Dynamic Learning Center.” The square is from immemorial time the heart of the historical city: a place that citizens have chosen for their leisure and encounters, for trade and exchanges. Today, such social gathering places are progressively disappearing, replaced by centers for business and entertainment to which, in various ways, are increasingly delegated for the management and planning of the inhabitants leisure time. On the other hand, there is also a greater demand for places where people can cultivate various interests and have opportunities to meet and exchange with others. In The Great, Good Place, the American sociologist Ray Oldenburg, argues the importance of these places that he calls “Third Places” in the development of a community. These are a safe and informal, neutral ground, where people feel at ease and have the opportunity to relax, meet and socialize.

Fotoinserimento

Architectural Planning The building’s shape is due to the necessity of an anthropic space: a deformation of the facade generates the entrance, a more simple deformation allows, on the rear side, to see the interior life into the library. A plastics modelling of the roof allows the building to comply with the height limits required by the brief and to create a green garden in the roof. Flexibility The building is characterized by great flexibility. People can use some parts independently, at different times or in different ways from the rest of the library. Every decision related to the organisations of the areas of the building is made to allow multiple uses today and new configurations in a future redesign.

Transparency The building is conceived as an open space: the ground floor of the Library, the newspapers and news area, is completely transparent, offering passers-by the chance to see the people, the life and activities taking place within it, pointing out that the Library is a fragment of the city. At the same time, transparency allows users to maintain eye contact with the outside world, a prerequisite for the welfare of the people. On the upper floors the building is wrapped in a simple and effective system of shading, which modulate the light inward. The slope and the distance between the slats allow the building to change its look: during the day it looks like a compact block allowing users to see the outside, at night, the interior lighting, allows to perceive the interior, making the building become a city landmark. The control of the lighting also allows to give an elegant texture on the façade of the building. The library presents itself as an open space at different heights that overlook a common courtyard: the Urban Square. The level of the entrance has been raised respect to the plane of the site for both technical issues and to impart a greater aspect to the building. The entire area offers many opportunities for relax, meeting and conviviality

Internal distribution From the entrance you can reach the inner courtyard, the center of the library, or the Multipurpose room and the Culture Classroom, which are both accessible at different times from the rest of the building. The center of the courtyard is a grand open fluid space. It resembles a covered square, a new living room for Daegu City. The ground floor is an open space with an area for news, newspapers and magazines; an area for lounge; an area for new arrivals and reference services (Library Guide, Information Search, Book Search, Book Checkout, Return Room, Lounge and a portion of Stockroom). Easily visible is the information desk / loan / manual return, the info point, the self-check, on-line catalogs. Totems and television screens will give information about the city and the territory of Daegu.