The thematic premise of this project examines seriality in the built environment. If the physical book as an object can be understood as a container for an organized series of information, we might think of the book-object as something that spatializes information through seriality. This project looks at how architecture and the built environment can exercise the relationship between space and series. The initial organization of space involved optimizing the usability of the site intersection at Robson Street and Broughton Street whilst simultaneously preserving the continuity of the existing contextual conditions. Developed as a series of spaces rather than an enclosed whole, each sector of the site is granted spatial autonomy from the other while maintaining a distinct harmony under the raised ceiling of the park above. A café, courtyard, and covered plaza are placed parallel to Robson Street to extend the existing public domain. Facing Broughton Street, the main entrance to the library building is allowed more privacy and diffuses the volume of traffic coming from Robson Street. The roof structure is a series of 29 rectangular panels that ascend, descend, and overlap in relation to each other to form the grounds of a multifunctional ‘roof-park.’ As the panels ascend and descend, the roof structure also becomes a series of steps or levels. This allows for the ‘roof-park’ to be experienced not only as a singular, uniform roof, but also as a series of individual roofs.
Library on Robson Street & Broughton Street
James Jin | ARCH 500 with Bill Pechet