There have been many terms to define public library; according to UNESCO, “public library is the local centre of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information readily available to its users. And it’s core missions are creating and strengthening reading habits, supporting providing ,stimulating the imagination and creativity of community as well as ensuring access for citizens to all sorts of community information.”
The existence of public library in any town is a must when considering the value that can be added to the community in general, and in a person where they can know themselves and their community.
So why do we need one? , well, Nablus nowadays can be defined as a growing educational city thanks to its different diverse educational centers and with growing population, clearly we need a library with public attributes which provides related services that can be opened to anyone at anytime.
Library buildings as architectural structures are culturally relevant. library buildings are rich in symbolism and meaning. The physical space of the library communicates to the public underlying values, as an architectural structure it can be more than information building, it’s the place where people that diverse in many ways gathered , share and explore, here when interaction of information, thoughts, believes sparks to become this place a reflection to its community and creative diversity.
From what mentioned before public library was chosen to be my project, and it’s situated in Nablus city, which located at the north-west side that is known to be the west entrance of Nablus. It’s surrounded by streets all over its’ side ( Haifa St. / Yafa St./ Tunis St./ By street). The rectangular shape with the longitudinal part directed to the north side gives more credit for the library building design to benefit the desirable “north” lightning.
The design itself, is based around simple narrative of looking through nature-trees that planted on the site to the view, transparency, light quality. Which all work together as an attracting elements to the viewer by creating an open axis passes through the library building. Style and form were considered and modeled to inform various design demands.
With the important role of libraries nowadays as information and cultural interacting space between people , such spaces were took into consideration by including book café , community meeting/ conference room, gallery, and open study room. Beside the outdoor design within the nature which considered and provided with seats and tables where gathering , sharing, or simply reading are possible and enjoyable to achieve.