Spaced out in the Digital age – The future of Library design
The Inside Story – A Library Interiors Forum (Feb 2002)
SPACED OUT IN THE DIGITAL AGE – THE FUTURE OF LIBRARY INTERIORS
For the Inside Story – A Library Interiors Forum
Presented by Cecilia Kugler from CK Design International.
CK Design International
Suite 13/ 16-22 Australia St, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia
Phone 61-02-9557 9556Fax 61-02-9557 9558 Mob 61- 0419 567 392
( )- Website under construction
Overview
Importance of good Interior Design and some measures of efficiency
A Dream of the future
Present Influences and directions
Lessons from the Past
Back to the future - Universal Design Principles
Importance of Good Interior Design
Success or failure still cost money
Good for Business / Raises Profile, aids Marketing
Space is the Machine – So get a space mechanic
Meets aesthetic, efficiency, comfort and safety
Creative solutions, new products /material
Enhances way finding and self sufficiency
Design can help rationalizes visual information and increasing variety of services
Maximise resources, money, staff, materials, time, etc
Some Measures of Efficiency
Quantifiable efficiency
Capacity & flexibility
Maintenance & Running costs
Qualitative efficiency
Welcoming - Warm & friendly
Sense of place – personal, group, community
Happiness & comfort of users
Functionality & flexibility
Variety of choices
A dream of the Future
Imagine a future Library………Think Startrek
Plasma walls and Virtual Browsing Look for it
Voice / touch activated retrieval and deliveryGet it
Your choice of medium and place – Hard Copy or digital Use It
Wireless equipment …everythingwhere you like
Multimedia options for all information
Moving walls, Instant rooms ……and Cone of silence if needed…..
3D Holograms at your table to use with Study group with whom you like
Eat where you like… (robots clean up)
Observation
Technological possibilities are Endless, but still only a tool
Interactive Technology is only a part of the experience
The human and social dimensions of libraries will always remain paramount in importance and in the future.
Current Situation = Spaced Out
More IT = lessSpace
Cyber Space – Byte size
Digital information takes less room initially
New services and jobs associated with IT
More space for infrastructure ( access points, staff areas, network & digitizing rooms)
Shelf Space – Book size
More publishing
At reduced rates Collections continue to grow
People Space – Largest Size
Multidimensional – Variety of services and activities
Personal Group & Community Space
Life long learning - increase demand for learning spaces
Current situation in General
Both Public & Academic Libraries although at reduced rates, still juggling increases in hard copy and growth in IT
Academic - responding to new services and new methods of teaching an learning
Public – increase in IT to provide a wider client group
Areas combined with mixed business/ services
Current Influences “entertainment to spiritual”
Changes in technology affecting all levels of life
Changes in Management styles, staffing structures and raising salary costs
Budgetary constraints & drop in AUD $
Changing Business Models and Marketing
Raised consumer expectations
24/7, demands for a variety, entertainment value, service levels
Quality retail and hospitality interiors
Changes in behavior and popular culture
Need for social interaction & re-awakening of community spirit
What we learned from the past - Process
Previous Practice
Reactive to immediate problem
Segmented view of areas within the project (eg. marketing separate from planning)
Brief only quantify need, did not qualify need.
Exclusive of staff & user participation
Too much emphasis on Quantity rather than Quality
New Process Must
Have a vision and be strategic – short and long term considered with implementation strategies
Be inclusive of staff and users & Open lines of communication
Qualify and quantify need
Be holistic – all aspects of design, infrastructure and function considered together (eg, corporate image, planning, signage, maintenance, etc)
Baillieu Library - University of Melbourne
Developed Master plan in ’94 - fully documented and costed
Minimum upgrade $9 million to be implemented over 7 Stages
Emphasis - Maximum Capacity
Proposed Layout – 6 levels
20 yr expansion for all collection & better flow
Increased Student study areas
Layout Easy to navigate, large, open & light
Very efficient & user friendly
Baillieu Library - Outcomes
Good Process and strategy
Extensive consultation in developing brief and encouraging ownership
Master-plan documented, staged & costed to facilitate funding
Stages 1 to 5 completed – same changes to implementation plan
Still to be implemented – Stages 6 & 7
Efficiency & Flexibility
Efficient & flexible Layout – Maximum capacity
Original building very flexible for its time (although not on wired grid)
Baillieu Library - Lessons
Underestimated impact of IT and new services
Requiring modifications to Master plan
Overlooked need for variety & identity
Sense of Personal & Group spaces
Seating for various study behaviors
Loss of domestic scale - Too repetitious
State Library of Queensland - Reference Library - Levels 2 & 3
‘anti-institution’ strategy
Aim to create
easy navigation, welcoming, comfortable and warm environments
Sympathetic design to existing architecture
defined family of spaces within the whole
Improve operations and service delivery
State Library of Queensland - Outcomes
Layout
Sympathetic to building design style, just warmer
Improved traffic and collection flow
Area & function definition – Sense of place
Greater Variety of area types, seating and colours
State Library of Queensland – Lessons
Poor allocation of funds - on hold for 1 yr awaiting approval
No master-plan for the whole building awaiting redevelopment
Unknown impact of new development (at that stage the Millenium Library Project had not been approved)
Matheson Annexe - Sir Louis Matheson Library - Monash University
Aim to provide Extended opening hours offering:
Secure Library Study Facilities
Group discussion facilities
Access to computers & networked databases
Photocopy services & access to open reserve collection
New Break-out areas
New disable-toilet
Matheson Annexe - Concept
Open, welcoming & lively (blending with existing Interior )
Form & Colour
aid navigation and punctuate spaces
Liven up spaces with almost no natural light.
Maximimum use of resources –
capacity, staff, traffic areas, existing building features
Improve workflows
Flexible environment – minimum use of fixtures, Use modular furniture
Matheson Annexe- Outcomes
Positive
Well defined functions & flowing layout
Softness – Layout / shapes / tactile
Variety of spaces and resources
Very popular with students
Negative
Problem with food carried to other areas (robots waiting to be commissioned !)
Libraries of the future
Characteristics of Future –
Innovative libraries / Characteristics of Traditional librariesA place of change – Interactive and dynamic
Exitable and adaptive
Light, spacious – easy patron flow
Educational, entertaining, busy
Multi-sensory – Look, touch, listen, read, talk
Upgrade often / Rigid – Interaction minimized
Inflexible infrastructure
Crowded, maze like, intimidating
Intellectual, quiet
Browse, study, research, quiet
Upgrade every 20 to 3 years
Notes from Aaron Cohen presentation at IFLA 2002
Universal & Lasting Principles
Process
Holistic and strategic
Inclusive & Communicative
Design
Simplicity, clarity & definition
Variety & Comfort
Flexibility & Identity
Sense of place – personal and group
Hierarchy & Domestic scale
Experiential Space needs attention - Sense of place and style
Human scale and territory definition paramount
Innovative and changing
More human-oriented design criteria
Most Complex Design Issues to resolve
Competing resources & needs – user/collections, staff, $$$
Flexibility vs. Space definition / Identity
Sense of personal vs. group space
Character vs. Dating Styles
Technology
A powerful tool – still a tool
Integrate Technology sympathetically - in a way that will not destroy the core concept of a human centered environment.
“Libraries are the new community living room,
so the emphasis should be in creating livable environments,
that appeal to all senses not just the psyche ”
© Cecilia Kugler ()
CK Design International1