Libraries as Envisioned by Interior Design Students Part I
I was asked to critique Brookdale Community College's Interior Design Studio students' library design projects yesterday by Professor Patty Blaser who also happens to be the next president of NCIDQ, the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.
The students were asked to design the first floor of a two story library and were given a rectangular footprint for a space with fixed fenestration, exits and stairs. However, they were not given a program for the library except that it was to be an "information commons". They were free to interpret that term and define the location, users and functions as they saw fit. Here's what they produced: Note the number of cafes and lack of book stacks.
Michael Toro's plan reflects his intent to create a collaborative environment. He used a heart, as in the library is the heart of the university for his campus library. See the entrance at lower left adjacent to the circular stairs to the second floor where many students said they would locate the book stacks.
Erin Foster's concept was inspired by nature, oysters in fact. She linked her organic approach to her design to "pearls of wisdom" creating an elegant materials board.
Caitlin Trione's concept for a New York Library was inspired by filmmaker Tim Burton. Her schematic design featured quirky elements of surprise and a saturated finish palette without sacrificing the functionality of the space.
Wendy Racer placed her academic library at Rosendale, NY home of Rosendale Cement and a strong community of artists and craftspeople. She used location as a springboard for her design concept by incorporating cement into her furnishings and creating a floor plan that reads like abstract art.
Check back next week for the remainder of the students' work.
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