The {tag:studenci}, a second-year student in the Department of Architecture at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, is the author of the project titled "To Share: Knowledge." Her proposal is a Student Library in St Andrews along with accommodation space for visiting professors. Everything is surrounded by abundant greenery and non-obvious spaces that blur the boundaries between inside and outside.
"To Share: Knowledge" is a design for a library for students at nearby universities, enriched with space for visiting professors.The author also provided space for meetings and workshops. The project plot that the student chose is located in the center of the town of St Andrews, on the eastern peninsula of Fife, Scotland. The site is well connected, easily accessible by bus, car and also on foot. The green areas surrounding the building are mainly for private use - they are enclosed gardens at the rear of the residential buildings.
The project "To Share: Knowledge", axonometry of the library
© Natalia Kulesza
friendly library
My design strategy focused on a corner of the site, the intersection of Market Street and Union Street. The design aimed to maximize and make available to the public an open space enriched with vegetation. First, it was necessary to get rid of the concrete surfaces. The landscaping is an experiment with different heights of the site, which led to the design of a sand path between grassy hills, as a form of labyrinth , Natalia explains.
visualization of the library garden
© Natalia Kulesza
The varying height of the terrain has influenced the form of the building - some parts of it are raised, which the author says makes it more accessible. Visitors walk to the other side of the site, underneath the building, without having to go around the entire establishment.
Theminimalism of the finishes, as well as the open plan, make it easy for visitors to quickly find their way around the library space. The designed interiors are characterized by a clear layout of rooms and a cozy, almost homely atmosphere.
first floor plan
© Natalia Kulesza
study cabins
The author divided the library space into different functions: some are designed for group use, and some are adapted to individual readers' needs. The proposed modular furniture, which serves as a study cabin, is conducive to study sessions. The cabin is illuminated by natural light, which can be controlled by window blinds, and two wooden sliding panels are modified according to the reader's needs.
design of individual study space
© Natalia Kulesza
The modular furniture has the necessary equipment in the form of an outlet, a basket, a comfortable chair, a bookcase for personal belongings, but also with a wide range of magazines and newspapers. Thermal comfort is provided by underfloor heating and ventilation.
opening to the environment
With her design, Natalia sought to blur the boundaries between the public and the private. Her concept includes indoor and outdoor activities with both formal and informal spaces.
visualization of the library atrium
© Natalia Kulesza
It is a place where people with different tastes can choose the environment that suits them best. This character was achieved, among other things, by designing public cylindrical boxes that are located outside and not directly connected to the main library building. Based on a circular plan, one box serves as a lockablebook depository, while the other two are a reading room. Users freely borrow and bring books. The rooms are glazed at the top, so library visitors can observe their activities from the second floor," the author says of the idea.
The project "To Share: Knowledge", perspective cross-section
© Natalia Kulesza
fitting into the context
The proposed massing is a combination of four connected buildings and one separate one for the residence. All buildings have pitched roofs. In addition, some parts have been raised to minimize the impact on the plot and maximize contact with nature. The shape of the residential part refers to the existing building at the back of the plot, and the other structures to the buildings on Market Street. The author used wood as the main construction material, exposing it in the interiors of the library.
wood is the main construction material
© Natalia Kulesza
The proposed library building preserved the traditional character of its surroundings through the choice of materials and massing. I also used a modern interpretation of the stone cladding, and the selected color palette harmonizes with the architecture of the market in St Andrews," Natalia Kulesza concludes.
