Shaping the Character was a public library project along the Los Angeles State Historic Park around Chinatown, LA. The main concepts of the project were largely decided according to the joint studies and site analyses I had done at the beginning of the design process.

“Flexible and Interdependent” were the first principles that were established from a process of analyzing the hidden characteristics of two joints and redefining them: an authored truss joint designed by Amateur Architecture Studio for Wa Shan Guesthouse and one of the Japanese vernacular joints.

“For the Neighborhood” was the second principle that reflected the site analyses. The data showed diverse information about the site, but the major facts that I focused on were: more than 70% of the population around the site is Asian, about 50% of the population did not get a chance to receive higher education, the neighborhood is old compared to other regions, and the area around the park significantly lacks spaces, where visitors can avoid sunlight, within the walking distance. Thus, asiental design, adult library, and community programs were the subprinciples. Later in the plan drawing process, accessible circulation was also added as one of the subprinciples in order to include all the neighbors.

“Radiating Entry Sequence” was the last principle that was devised from the parti drawing process. Not only because the complex entry sequence is one of the characteristics of Asian vernacular architecture but also because the site is a wide open space, I intentionally blocked views in certain areas so that visitors need to move inside to achieve a full perspective of the park. Also, I located the Reading Room in the center of the space as a highlight of the building and made the rest of the spaces radiate from it as secondary serving spaces.