UG2: URBAN LIBRARY

[DETROIT] The Urban Library

This project was driven by the context of the site and Urban conditions in Detroit MI, both present and future.  The idea that by giving the community a place to gather that individuals would be self motivated to initiate change was an initial goal of the space.  The ‘Town Hall” is visually connected with all programs in the building, with the optimism that whether intentional or not, the users of all

programs would become familiar with what was occurring within their own community.   The spaces within the library, many of which are dedicated to giving groups room in which to operate, would be able to be reprogrammed as the residential population grows and different services are needed.   The external circulation and facade conditions were an attempt to resolve the outwards ‘abandoned’  look of many buildings and to draw attention to the internal activities.