Boston Public Library – Chinatown Branch
Boston Public Library - Chinatown Branch
The traditional library model is becoming, in many ways, obsolete. The majority of its functions can be done in easier and more convenient ways online or through other physical avenues. This new library concept in Boston’s Chinatown provides one possible solution to bring this important archetype into the modern age.
This design highlights the library’s function as a center of the neighborhood and a “home away from home”. Specifically, the building is highly accessible because of the open colonnade allowing entry and exit from either side and features multiple large open spaces and community centered programs. This function is amplified by the addition of an allotment gardening program which helps the new building fit in the context of the pre-existing parks and create another community focused activity. These garden plots can be rented by residents yearly.
The first phase of this project was to design a temporary summer library in Chinatown Park. The design is based on a 6′ square grid system and is made of wooden trellis, where residents can plant. The plan is meandering with many crevices for people to sit in or walk through.
The final library design is approximately 30,000 square feet, optimized to serve the specific needs of the Chinatown residents. The park concept evolved into a community garden, where residents can rent a garden plot to plant fruits and vegetables. The library is centered around a courtyard filled with plots and encased a colonnade with hydroponically-grown climbing plants. It retains the meandering quality of the previous iteration, having multiple means of circulation on multiple levels.
