South Park Library by Johnston Architects

The Library of South Park is a meeting place and focal point for the rich and diverse neighborhoods of South Park, Seattle, USA . The architects of the firm Johnston Architects , is in the spirit of the community with a design that uses materials, colors, and meeting places as a “front porch”, taken from the neighborhood.

In 1998, the government of Seattle receives a certificate of $ 196.4 million, as a measure to build 13 new libraries and renovate 14 others already in existence. However, the modest Latin Quarter of South Park was not on the list. Citizens, had been trying for over 100 years old, have a bookstore. In fact, in the archives of the city, there is a request in 1906, which validates the points made above. All said the community was destined to run out a place for their books, the insistence finally paid off when a $ 2.7 million dollars, is awarded to finally build the library that was completed in spring 2006.

The library program provided for an area of 5000 m2 with the classic type that includes spaces for storing books, study sites, Reading area and spaces for staff. Much of the space was meant to salt the meeting and recreation place for children. The community thought that they had enough of those spaces in other community settings. So this square meters are used to generate spacious reading and storage.

The design sought to become a new center for South Park, because the neighborhood had made significant growth in recent decades, due to a large number of immigrants from Latin America and Southeast Asia. The ethnic mix was the inspiration for the look you take the library. Solid blocks lined with red stucco are willing to create indoor and outdoor patios. The pattern is the pavement at the entrance, reminiscent of the winding road, originally from the nearby Duwamish River. In a metaphorical sense, the river flows from a source and ends in a field of poplars planted in front of the library.

The Library of South Park is more than the work itself and its components, represents a new venue for the community, besides being a symbol of recognition of this district, as an important place within the city.