Silver Spring Library Designs
11 11 2009The new library being designed for Silver Spring has gone through a series of iterations over the years, but now finally we have some final drawings to go off of how this thing is going to really look! Dan from Just Up the Pike passed on an update from the this past weekends public meeting and it looks like this thing is going to be a very big building!
The final design ended up including lots of glass (surprise!) and the architects from Lukmire Partnership described the design as wanting it to “glow like a lantern” at night. Having the light rail go “through” the building is an interesting and necessary touch. Also don’t get too worried about the colors in the renderings either, the finishes and colors are still being finalized so Silver Spring most likely won’t be dominated by a giant creamsicle library.
Another night time rendering after the jump…
It’s odd, the cantilever on the corner would be a lot less shocking if that entrance pod on the side didn’t exist. Instead of looking exciting, it looks kind of off-balance. The prior incarnations, though less beautiful, didn’t have that effect.
Seriously, tsarchitect? It’s a beautiful building…the “pod” is integral and I don’t think anyone else thinks it looks off-balance.
YA SRSLY!
I think the architects wanted the cantilever to look shocking, like “how the hell is this thing standing” type shocking. Oh how far have the modernists desended from their “truth in architecture” battle cry. As for beautiful, it’s clearly in the eye of the beholder. While not my cup of tea, it looks more like a wanna-be starchitect building. Hack-city!
Thayer, putting aside the fact that modernism doesn’t exist any more, that you don’t know what the designers were thinking, and that nothing about a cantilever is untrue or necessarily shocking, it will still be a boon to the street.
Rick to say you don’t “think anyone else thinks it looks off-balance” is dead wrong, the thing looks crazy out of proportion and balance!
If only proportion and balance where motivating themes. More like shock and awe!
It does not look like an inviting library, and why is it so big? I don’t realize that Silver Spring needed such a large facility, which looks bigger than any library in DC or surrounding areas. It better have more than just books in there, is there some type of theater or performance space?
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