VEILED SPACE
Gwangju, South Korea
Project
City Library, Cultural Center, Preservation Library, Office
Client
Gwangju City
Size
11,000 sqm / 118,000 sqft
VEILED SPACE - GWANGJU CITY LIBRARY
Located on a non-descript industrial site between river and park, the Gwangju City Library is designed to form a new site condition that creates an entrance from the river side while framing a plaza toward the park. Two buildings: one for the library, and one for office - frame the plaza. The main library building consists of two blocks one for the library and one for cultural education and events. These two blocks have been stretched apart leaving behind an attenuated sloped mixing chamber in-between where the two discreet programs can interact and cross-fertilize. Today’s library is as much a storehouse of knowledge as it is a place for social and intellectual interaction. The office building completes the framing of the plaza. Separate public and staff cafe’s open to a shared terrace on the first floor while offices are located on the second floor. A preservation library is located on the third floor with a double height space and overlooking fourth floor mezzanine.Both volumes are wrapped in a printed metal screen curtain held 2.5m off the ground. The porous curtain screens the building in the summer and creates a luminous veiled building glowing in the landscape during low light conditions.
View from the River looking South East
CONCEPT: A MIXED CULTURAL LIBRARY
The main library building consists of two blocks one for the library and one for cultural education and events. These two blocks have been stretched apart leaving behind an attenuated sloped mixing chamber in-between where the two discreet programs can interact and cross-fertilize. Today’s library is as much a storehouse of knowledge as it is a place for social and intellectual interaction. The office building completes the framing of the plaza. Separate public and staff cafe’s open to a shared terrace on the first floor while offices are located on the second floor. A preservation library is located on the third floor with a double height space and overlooking fourth floor mezzanine.
View from Lobby and Children’s Library toward the Cultural Education Area
View from Cultural Education Exhibition Area toward the Library
STRUCTURE & MECHANICAL
The structural design for the Gwangju City Library employs a series of lightweight steel columns supporting waffle slabs. A lightweight steel structure on the roof supports the metal mesh curtain wrapping the two buildings. The mixed cultural library zone is supported by a series of lightweight steel trusses. The mechanical system of the building utilizes the geothermal heat on site and passive cooling from the river. A 300mm raised floor supplies efficient underfloor HVAC. The supporting plant rooms are located in the basement. The printed metal screen curtain optimizes daylighting and shades the building from excess heat in the summer. Triple glazing is used for thermal resistance as well as noise reduction from the adjacent highway.