Japan
Oita Library, Oita Architect: Arata Isozaki Atelier Structural engineer: Osawa group, Tokyo Univ.
Equipement engineer: Toshio Ojima Constructor: Goto gumi Construction Co., Ltd.
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In this building, two wings stick out from the centre zone which is used as a lounge hall. The northern wing is used as a reading block and the other as a record library block and an office block. Each block has a different height of ceiling and floor level according to its own functions.
Two pairs of big walls make the characters of each block clear, as you see on the plans. The walls finally became the basic skeleton because of the enlargement that is caused by the distortion of space, which came from the complicated difference of the block levels and the load of structures of the blocks.
Walls hold a kind of circulation tube.
People must pass inside of a pair of walls, moving from the centre zone to the wings.
Also on the psychological point of view, the walls are intended to give people a certain impression against to pass through. The return air duct passes also through the walls. The lounge zone in centre is conceived and designed as part of exterior space. For example, the floor is made by hard material like the outside terrace, and the lightonly comes from the top, for the zone situates between two pairs of thick walls. As the centre zone from the entrance to the browsing hall is a place of quick moving and multi-purpose circulation, the area is naturally a rather noisy place. This is the reason to make this zone like exterior space.
The principle of my planning method was already explained in 'Projet pour une ville spatiale' in 'L'Architecture d'aujourd'hui'. So here is the explanation only about the library.
Two pairs of walls are the skeletons of this structure, and blocks are the elements. Generally an element has such a character that it is composed of the repetition of the same sort of units. The repetition is intended to give the impression of increase or decrease of units, and space grows in such a scale.
The units are supported by box beams, the inside of which is used for the air-conditioning system. All these systems are also planned for easy development by the regular repetition within certain limits.
Structure: ferro concrete Finishing materials: Exterior: roof: sand roofing insulation mortar wall: concrete fittings: aluminium sash Interior: Centre zone ceiling: soundproof asbestine plaster wall: concrete floor: granite pre-cast stone porcelain-tile 045 mm Main reading room ceiling: soundproof asbestine plaster wall: concrete floor: PVC floor
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1. First floor plan 2. Second floor plan 3. Third floor plan and mezzanine third floor plan
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Main reading-room
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Photos Osamu Murai
Main entrance, east side
Photos Y. Futagawa
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