Often, when you think of a library, you can think of a hard atmosphere of sitting quietly and focusing only on books. Such a library will only help you fall asleep, even if you go to read books, and it will be boring and boring. Especially for children who are just getting access to books, I think they will accept the library as a place that is not fun and they don't want to go. However, books are a turbulent and exciting channel of knowledge that allows us to travel to various places, meet various people, and provide various information. I thought books should be lively and friendly, not boring. Isn't the library a playground with books? The interior design of the library at Kangbit Elementary and Middle School began with this idea.
Unlike other schools, the library of Kangbit Elementary and Middle School was used by elementary and middle school students together. There was a need for an elementary school student to read books in one space, and a middle school student to read books. Elementary school students wanted an active library where they could lie down in the library, read books, talk, and have various discussions, and middle school students wanted a relatively static library where they could study comfortably with their friends and sometimes take classes. It was a situation that had to meet the needs of users who wanted opposite activities in the same space. We decided to boldly divide one space into two zones. On one side, desks and chairs were mainly placed to make it easier for middle school students to study and listen to classes, and on the other side, a wide bench and a soft bench were placed for elementary school students to play, talk, and read books. In the middle, a long, low bookcase was placed to divide the space. The zones were divided because the activities they wanted in the library were different, but in the end, this library was one space, so the main color was selected and finished with a sense of unity.
In the reading space for middle school students, desks where four people can sit in groups were mainly arranged. You can do group assignments or share the contents of books you read with your friends and talk. Also, if there is a class in the library, it is good to sit here and take classes. In addition, a bar table was created where you can concentrate while reading books quietly alone. The information desk was finished to suit the library as a whole by unifying colors like a bookcase. The information desk is not very noticeable, so there is less heterogeneity. The sofa in the elementary school student space was also placed in the hallway to make it look like an extension of the library. Here, you can sit and rest in front of the library and talk loudly with your friends unlike in the library. A blue point was also applied to the ceiling to complete the overall space with a sense of unity.
Status: Built
Location: Seoul, KR
Firm Role: Architect
Additional Credits: D.CUBE