Pockets of Light Library
Spring 2024 | Professor Trent Fredrickson (Feature Projects)
Location: 600 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60605
Project Description
With the unstoppable growth of the internet and digital media, libraries are slowly fading away from public interest. Educational information and news are now can be found mostly online, which turned books and magazines into obsolete media that are no longer favored by most people. The major goal for this project is to redefine the library and seek a way to attract people back to the library to not merely read books but also serve other purposes.
An old parking garage in downtown Chicago is determined to be an existing building to be renovated and transformed into a new library that can simultaneously contribute to the dynamic of the city and preserve the value of physical books.
Thesis Statement
Pockets of Light library focuses on capturing different moments where natural light enters the space to create a state of serenity for users. The building facades are covered with frosted glass fins that are rotated at different angles to provide distinct glimpses into activities happening from the inside. Circular skylights are wrapped with frosted glass to trap daylight and gradually diffuse out to the interior areas. Rigid walls that separate people cannot be found in the building. Instead, half-height partitions are introduced to act as a form of dividing private and public purposes.
