Brisbane Square Library

Brisbane City Centre

2007

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Modern city building

Visible, identifiable, recognisable

Prominent location that is easily described “At the top of Queen St” “Opposite the casino”

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Modern city building

Distinctive building with plaza

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Street approach

Legible signage

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Bus stop at door

Access, welcomeActivity, liveliness

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Foyer – spacious sightlines to plaza

Long sightlinesIndoor/outdoorNatural light

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Foyer – library + cafe

Spacious scale; activity; natural light; wayfinding

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Into the library

Functional definitionSecurity

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Returns conveyor

Hi-tech leading practiceDefining qualityEfficiencyIntrigue/stories

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DIY book checkout

Hi-tech leading practiceDefining qualityEfficiencyIntrigue/stories

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Up to the action!

Escalator core – sightlinesNatural lightActivityEfficiency and convenience

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Not in Kansasany more

Iconic meeting roomDesign aestheticsLight – nature + artificeActivity zoneStudying in active zoneComplex patterns – colour and light

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Active core

Spacious, open, sightlinesDesign aestheticActive areaWayfinding, circulation

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IT lounge

Functional zonesQuieter zoneNatural lightDiversity of seatingSpacious / expansiveSoothing colours

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Transparent study/meeting rooms

Safe spacesEasy to superviseNatural light to coreLong sightlinesExternal outlooks

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Studious outlooks

Study opportunities in central thoroughfareNatural light :: Wide thoroughfarePlants :: Sightlines :: Stimulating colours

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Studious outlooks

Study opportunities in quiet thoroughfaresNatural lightSightlinesIntimate scale

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Fiction

Familiar fiction sectionLibrarian deskDisplay cases – local historyStudy desksWide thoroughfaresShelves – 3 high

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Kids

Protected nookIdentifiable by décor

In view of staff desk

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Kids

Enclosed :: protectedIdentifiable by décorChild-size furnitureFantasy décor

‘Home’ by Narelle Oliver was commissioned by Brisbane City Council

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Out the window

Active plazaSightlinesNatural light

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Diverse study/leisure areas

Variety – purpose, colour, scale, program spaces

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Acoustic

Flooring – carpetCeilings – textile and contourListening stations

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Environmental biology

Mountain :: Desert :: Cave :: Forest :: Coast

Savannah

But we thrive in environments that have characteristics of the savannahs that human life evolved in.

We can survive in a wide range of environments

Stephen Boyd

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9 hall marks of ‘savannah’ buildings

1. Balance between visual access and visual enclosure

2. Visual perspectives – horizontal rather than vertical

3. Long sight lines

4. Presence of tree-like forms (especially overhead canopy)

5. Multiple retreats

6. Daylight

7. Moderate levels of patterned complexity

8. Movement – flicker, light changes, flying, waving

9. Low background noise