Comments on: Help Plan a New Shaw Library http://goodspeedupdate.com/2007/2158 Rob Goodspeed's blog Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:48:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eric Fidler http://goodspeedupdate.com/2007/2158/comment-page-1#comment-49060 Eric Fidler Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:50:14 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/2007/2158#comment-49060 The usual architectural criticism of libraries is that they look and feel like prisons for books. The old Shaw Library appears to be no exception. As a style movement, Brutalism gives itself away in its very name. Though Mies van der Rohe went in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr._Memorial_Library" rel="nofollow">a different direction</a> downtown and Rem Koolhaas has recently taken <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Central_Library" rel="nofollow">his own shot at it</a>, building a library that looks more like a community asset than <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2084288,00.html" rel="nofollow">a fortressed U.S. embassy</a> is <a href="http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Libraries/branchinfo/ro.asp" rel="nofollow">easier </a> than one might think. The usual architectural criticism of libraries is that they look and feel like prisons for books. The old Shaw Library appears to be no exception. As a style movement, Brutalism gives itself away in its very name.

Though Mies van der Rohe went in a different direction downtown and Rem Koolhaas has recently taken his own shot at it, building a library that looks more like a community asset than a fortressed U.S. embassy is easier than one might think.

]]> By: Inaudible Nonsense http://goodspeedupdate.com/2007/2158/comment-page-1#comment-48524 Inaudible Nonsense Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:13:32 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/2007/2158#comment-48524 It's not my neighborhood, so I don't know if my hopes and dreams count. But Shaw good do well to emulate the Rogers Park branch of the Chicago Public library. It's two stories, and is integrated into the commercial district on Clark. Flush with the street and with big picture windows to look out and look in. It's sort of a modern interpretation of traditional brick Chicago architecture. It was such a joy to use. And always filled with neighborhood kids. Just like a library should be. <a href="http://www.chipublib.org/002branches/rogers/rogers.html" rel="nofollow">Pictures here</a> It’s not my neighborhood, so I don’t know if my hopes and dreams count. But Shaw good do well to emulate the Rogers Park branch of the Chicago Public library. It’s two stories, and is integrated into the commercial district on Clark. Flush with the street and with big picture windows to look out and look in. It’s sort of a modern interpretation of traditional brick Chicago architecture. It was such a joy to use. And always filled with neighborhood kids. Just like a library should be. Pictures here

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