Book Part Essay Library Utrecht

The Library
Architectural
Analysis
Dipl.-Ing. H. Apelt
Dipl.-Ing. H. Yegenoglu
2011/2012
05. Presentation
Berend ten Hoopen, Maykel van den Hurk, Mart Huijbers, Dave Maas
Essays
13
Presentation of the media

Introduction
Knowledge for reputation (300 BC)
reader by a tag on the scroll. The presentation was done so
statements, events and discoveries. The history of these
of other cities, power was one of the main important aspects
of the scrolls. The focus was more on the meeting room
Contemporary libraries are the result of ancients

results represents the whole spectrum of the human
evolution. From the begin of noting information on

a medium, storage and preservation of these medium
became necessary. Excavations show us nowadays how the

humankind evolved this storage and preservations. Cave
paintings, carved basements walls and tomb captions where
When major cities grew to empires and became independent
that it hardly only functions as an storage an preservations
to survive and extend. Not only manpower made this but
behind where the scrolls are stored.
deceases and wars. The great empires knew this and so
Pergamon
empire. Knowledge became a sort of power for a city.
could be considered the capital of knowledge and learning 7.
also knowledge was very important. Knowledge defeated

knowledge became an aspect of good reputation for an
Just as Rome became the capital of the empire, Alexandria

The Roman Empire looked with a bit of jealousy to the
one of the first manners to storage collected information.
Empires respond to this evolution an start using information
library of Alexandria, and started several libraries in there
When written information became more important for
start reading and writing about the human body, nature
The libraries in the Roman Empire were public buildings
other nations made It possible for the scholars to learn
people. The libraries were seen as a kind of entertainment
and more important its workspace. The buildings where
thermal houses.
prestigious campuses.
for the following libraries in the Roman Empire. The main
Alexandria
for an impressing presentation of the books8.
societies, nations needed those collected information.

The storage rooms evolved from basements to prestigious
buildings. But more important the media changed from
storage object to a appreciated content. In this essay this
evolution of the library will be explained by four representative

libraries due the time starting with Ebla build around 2500
BCE until the present. The explanation is picked by their
change of function and so their consequences, the topic will

be the presentation of the media.
Administration / Deposit (2500 BC)
When societies became more developed, major cities
started collecting information1 for the organization of their
city. Mostly this information was for the administration of

incoming goods and city taxes. The information needed a
place for storage and preservation. Those places became the

space of media. One of the first known and familiar storages
was the one in the city of Ebla, part of the Royal ensemble
at that city. The Ebla storage does not only consist of clay
tablets with prime business, but also with hymns, legends
and zoology. 2
All the information was written down on clay tablets,

which were positioned on wooden frames in the basement
walls. The presentation of the media to the space was done
by facing the tablets with the title to the front. Each clay
tablet had its own meaning. Shapes, measurements and
their etching referred to his content.3
to extend their knowledge and learn from others. Scholars
own Empire to compete with the library of Alexandria.
and the astronomy and. Collecting written knowledge from
and not only accessibly by the wealthy and high educated
the world. This all needed its own storage, preservation
for the people, and also placed in other public buildings like
appreciated by the inhabitants and empires became
The library in the city of Pergamon, was a layout library

lecture hall was not longer necessary, but still build and used
The ancient library of Alexandria was placed in and serving
The libraries in Rome were no longer part of an institution,
to the mouseion of Alexandria. The library was connected
but public buildings. In practice the wealthy and high-
and Peripatos walks . Around the library there was a shared
citizens could not read.
The library itself contained an acquisitions department,
The library of Pergamon resembled the one in Alexandria,
papyrus scrolls. The exact layout of the mouseion with its
Alexandria. But the main difference that was made was
library was completely destroyed.
Because the Roman Empire chooses for an entertainment
The mouseion was a progressive library that already
Storage of the reading material was not hidden anymore
high amount of scrolls, the mouseion contained large halls
The presentation of the media gets an other influence,
was place for daylight through the roof, this was done so that
representing the main room and so they get higher priority.
still readable. The separate shelves with the scrolls are also
was immediately visible and not hide behind storage rooms
to the main academy building by colonnades, courtyards

5
dinning room, lecture hall, meeting room and some gardens.
educated people only used the libraries, because the regular
cataloguing department and a hall with shelves for the
the layout of plans was corresponding with the one in
library will never be known, because due multiple fires the
internal, and that it was located in a public environment.
function of the library, it was more open to the inhabitants.
categorized his scrolls by rooms and the shelves. Due the
in basements and his walls, but in a large reading hall.
with the scrolls in their walls. In the middle of the hall there
which made it more functional for the readers. Books are
the daylight could not reach the scrolls but the scrolls where
Once visitors are in the room the presentation of the books
functioning for categorisation. On the top of the shelves the
or basements.
titles and the category of the concerning scrolls was named.

Each papyrus scroll contained his own information for the
1
2
Notes made on a medium for a certain purpose

Murray S., (2009) p. 9.
3. Kenneth A., (1977) p. 41.
4. Greek temple, whose layout now a days still influences

university campuses
Fig.2 Royal library of Alexandria, basement
5. Walk path for discussing and thinking

6. Philips H., (1977), p. 4.
7. Murray S., (2009), p. 17.
8. Broek van den R., (1984), p. 24.

9. Murray S., (2009) p. 28.
10. Pevsner N, (1979), p. 93 + 94.
11. The copyright principal between universities made it possible

that the knowledge of other universities also where available
in their own universities by copied books.
12. Wiel Arets, architect
14
Fig.1 Ancient Royal Palace of Ebla, excavations of the library
Fig.3 City of Pergamon, the part of the entertainment ensenmble
Public building types: The library

Dark Ages ( 475 AD)
The Renaissance. (1400 AD)
And when you find the entrance on the ground floor, you
libraries were destroyed, the knowledge was lost. The
spread throw Europe in the late middle ages. It was literally
to a smaller stairs and than you are arriving in the centre of
growth of this period, two aspects that were very important
you to the bookshelves and workstations.
their internals contained paintings and other decorations
are inside you will lose all contact with the world outside
libraries and became important for a building. Big open and
and its space make themselves inferior to those media.
rooms.
the book cupboards. By putting the cupboards like they did,
After the fall of the West-Roman Empire cities and their

intellectuals went to the East of Europe and Asia and took
the remaining books with them. From that moment the
intellectual dark ages came up in Europe. Libraries became

private and closed to public again.
In the sixth century, the order of Saint Benedict became the
most influential order in the world of books and libraries.

This order was led by the priest Benedict of Nursia who
followed his own guidebook; Rule of the monks. The rule
required each monastery to have at least one book for every
In the 14th century the Renaissance started in Italy and
are not in the library yet. There is a large stairs, which leads
translated as rebirth. Art and literature inspirited the
the library. The centre of the library is an atrium that guides
in this time. Libraries became monuments again and
It takes some effort to finally get in the library, but when you
of familiar artists. The decoration made his rebirth in the
the library. The library is build for the media; the building
decorated areas were the style of the reading and storage
The workstations and reading places are located between

there arises a routing and workspaces through the library.
Due the copyright principal the amount of media grew
The media makes the space in this university library.
amount of media became new decoration in wall shelves
fashion, but also one where they can meet others without
11
that hard that the media became decorations. The big
It is a place where people can work in a concentrated
that contribute the decorated space of familiar painters.
the need of any other stimulation except the atmosphere
the 11th until the 13th century cities and commerce
Modern libraries
In the library there is information about several subjects,
the development of cities. The available knowledge wasnt
kinds of books and data, to get knowledge from every
campus. So not like in the ancient library of Alexandria,
monk.
Knowledge for growth (1100 AD)
After the Dark ages, the high middle ages came up. Around
grew in a fast way. The knowledge that was lost blocked
enough to run the modern cities. Universities were needed.

The 13th century is the know century for the establishment
of the universities. Monasteries became more open, and
even the monks of the monasteries started to teach at the
universities. The knowledge of the monks was worth a
fortune. So much that the copied volumes of the monks
The ancient royal library of Alexandria collected all different
subject ever discussed or written about. After the copyright

principal each library extended their amount of books, and
from that moment libraries had all the information about
that the building radiates 12
but all related to the bachelor and master studies on the

where they collected all the information that was available
at that time.
everything that was discussed and written down in history.
A libray for the Nordic Countries.
fit anymore in one library. So nowadays libraries have more
Copenhagen it always functioned for a big audience.
library itself. But through connections between the libraries
inhabitants can go. Nowadays the Royal Library still
Therefore modern libraries are having a huge amount of
social aspects like opera, restaurants and others. But for
a big part of the library itself. Thereby you got most of the
whole Nordic countries. An library with different sorts of
This resulted in libraries with so many media that it didnt
When we look at the history of the Royal Library of
specific information, more connected to the context of the
The island contains cultural and social aspect where the
it is possible to exchange books to each other.
functions as an social and cultural library. It still contains
media in their deposits and storage rooms, which are mostly
the cultural aspect it is the biggest library/archive of the
information about a specific subject on one location.
audience.
his worth full media. Lecterns became evidently wasteful
Campus library
The external is an eye catcher for Copenhagen, a very open
new system. The stall system , a system where the lecterns
the campus on the edge of the city. It is a library within a
and its not that open the faade tells the passers. The main
where chained in the universities to lecterns and cupboards.

Due the growth of technology and commerce also the
media had its own evolution. The handwritten books of the

monks made place for the printed book. The invention of
printing and replacing the vellum to paper made it possible

for the library to collect more books. The drudgery became
more worthless. The university of Oxford, Corpus Christi

College, was one of the first universities who unchained
of space, so the lecterns and shelves must be developed to a

and shelves were combined in to one. 10
The university library of Utrecht is placed in the middle of

campus, on the same principal like the ancient royal library
of Alexandria. When approaching the building it appears
like a big closed box, which doesnt immediately showing

you the way to its entrance.
Fig.4 Stall system of the Corpus Christi College
Essays
Fig.5 Universiteitsbibliotheek, Utrecht
building. But once at the entrance it gets more detailed

entrance is at the side of the building.
The routing and hierarchy in the building is not focused on

the aspect library. When visitors entrance the building they
will come on the commercial floor. Where are none of the
Fig.6 Royal Danish Library Copenhagen
15

cupboards or reading rooms. For the media the visitors need
in. The library of Alexandria became more public and
presentation of the media will get clear when the visitor
as a gesture to invite the inhabitants of a city.
to go through the central atrium to the second level. The
comes at the second floor, after entering the reading hall.

The spatial hierarchy of the Royal Library shows that
visitors have to do some effort for finding a book.
When we refer back to a campus model of for example
Alexandria, we see that the media is added with other
social aspect, like diner rooms, plazas, patios and others. So

a place for education and recreation. The Black Diamond
knows also a typology like this scheme. A central reading
in the heart of the wing surrounded by privet study rooms,

recreation and the deposit of books. The focus is not only on
the reading and learning.
The relation between the space and function is a very
important aspect in this scheme. Every room shows
the visitor in one view at what function he is standing.

Remarkable stays that the space is more important than the
media. The media functions the space, and not the space the
media. This typology represent the whole building. Striking
rooms who invited the visitors, that gets information by the

presentation of the attributes.
Concluded scheme
After analysing ancient libraries through time, we put al

functions mentioned in the literature in a scheme. This
scheme shows us which library contained which function,

and when in history this function became a part of the
library or its surrounding.
contained a reading room. So the reading room can be seen

Only in the dark ages the reading room was not fully
accessible anymore, but just for the monks which where

member of a monastery.
The dinning room is a remarkable function that comes
along with the library, this function was introduced in the

mouseion of Alexandria and was serving the library.
The library of Pergamon that presents itself as a public
building and beacon of power, even includes the dinning

room inside the library.
The dinning room (restaurant) is nowadays still a part of

the library.
When we look at the modern library of Copenhagen there
is a restaurant that can be reached from the inside of the

library, like the library of Pergamon. And in the university
library of Utrecht the restaurant can only be reached from
the outside, like the other campus libraries (Alexandria,

Monastery, Oxford).
The library of Copenhagen can be compared with the

ancient library of Pergamon. Both libraries can be seen as
entertainment for the inhabitants of the city. Because of

their functions and the context where the buildings are in.
The university library of Utrecht can be compared with

the other libraries that were placed inside a campus. Those
libraries contain only the necessary functions for studying
and researching, and the ensemble where they are in serves

the other functions.
From the scheme we can conclude that the base function

of a library is storage and cataloguing. Those functions
appeared in one of the first known libraries in the world,

and never disappeared out of the library.
The library of Alexandria adds a lot of functions to the
scheme, but only 3 of those functions are directly related

to the library itself. The other functions are connected to
and serving the library. This can be clarified by the campus
model where the library of Alexandria was part of.
The libraries that were from a later period than the one
Functions
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surrounding functions
Scheme; functions of libraries through history
16
Bibliography
Books
Webpages
Figures
Princeton University Press
culture/the-royal-library/description
http://www.aly-abbara.com/voyages_personnels/syrie/
Pevsner, N. (1979). A history of buildingtypes. England.
Stuart, Murray, A.P. (2009). The library: an illustrated history.

New York. Skyhorse Publishing
http://shl.dk/eng/#/home/about-architecture/library-
htt p://mimoa.eu/projects/Nether lands/Utrec ht/

University%20Library%20UBU
Suzanne Bieri. (2001). Bibliotheken bauen: Tradition and
van den Broek, R. (1984). Bibliotheken en geleerden in de

oudhied. Utrecht. Universiteitsbibliotheek
Phillips H., (2010). The great Libray of Alexandria? Library,
Ancient Royal palace of Ebla
Ebla/pages/palais_royal_G_archives.html
2
Royal library of Alexandria
http://www.historiaclasica.com/2007/09/la-bibliotecade-prgamo.html
Vision. Basel. Birkhuser Basel
Essay
Video
Episode one, The cosmos series
City of Pergamon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drawing_of_ancient_
Pergamon.jpg
4
A history of buildintypes (1979), p. 94
Universiteitsbibliotheek, Utrecht
philosophy and practice. San Diego.
The Dodleain Library Oxford. University of Oxford

Kenneth, A. (1977). The Bible in its world: the Bible and
archaeology today. The Pater Noster Press
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/utrecht/utrecht_university_
library.htm
6
Royal Danish Library Copenhagen
http://shl.dk/eng/#/home/about-architecture/libraryculture/the-royal-library/images
Essays
17
18
05.
Utrecht Library - Wiel Arets

Royal Danish Library - Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Berend ten Hoopen, Maykel van den Hurk, Mart Huijbers, Dave Maas
19
Content
Utrecht Library,
Wiel Arets
Typo-morphological analysis
1. Project description
009
1.01 General information

1.02 Axonometric projection
1.03 Plans
1.04 Sections and elevations
010
011
012
015
2. Context
017
2.01 Situation
2.02 Plot structure
2.03 Morphology
2.04 Relation
2.05 Access
017
018
019
021
022
3. Exterior
023
3.01 Volume
3.02 Access
3.03 Threshold
3.04.1 Faade composition | Grid
3.04.2 Faade composition | Depth
3.04.3 Faade composition | Transparency
3.05 Faade materials
3.06 Ornaments
3.07 Architectonic details
023
024
026
027
030
031
032
4. Interior
033
039
042
045
047
050
052
055
056
057
4.01.1 Routing
4.01.2 Routing | Public / Private
4.02 Construction
4.03 Use of spaces
4.04 Sequences of spaces
4.05 Threshold between spaces
4.06 Spatial order and proportion
4.07 Spatial hierarchy
4.08 Materialization and cladding
4.09 Interior elements
Conclusions
Routing
Composition
Royal Danish Library,
Schmidt Hammer Lassen

Typo-morphological analysis

1.03 Plans
2. Context
2.01 Situation
2.02 Plot structure
2.03 Morphology
2.04.1 Relation | Urban grid
2.04.2 Relation | Island structure
2.05 Access
20
033
058
059
3. Exterior
3.01 Volume
3.02 Access
3.03 Threshold
3.04.2 Faade composition | Rhythm
3.04.5 Faade composition | Symmetry
3.06 Ornaments
4. Interior
4.01.1 Routing
4.01.2 Routing | Escalators
4.02 Construction
4.03 Use of spaces
4.04.1 Types of spaces
4.04.2 Types of spaces | Employee corridor
4.06 Order of spaces
4.08.1 Climatic properties | Natural light
4.08.2 Climatic properties | Artificial light
Conclusions
Literature
Conclusive drawing
Literature
21
22
Utrecht Library, Wiel Arets Typo-morphological analysis
23
The university library of Utrecht
Inside the library,
Architect, Wiel M.J. Arets (14-5-1955)
300 workstations
Location, University campus (Uifhof )
Heidelberglaan 3, Utrecht, Netherlands

Completed, 2004
4,2 million books (90.000 m)

1000 study places
Auditorium
Coffee corner
6 shops
Parking garage (450)
Square metres, 36.250
Fig. 1 Main atrium
Fig. 2 Library form north side
24
Fig. 3 Main atrium
The University library of Utrecht appears like a big box
The library contains an entrance on ground level, and one
the biggest libraries in the Netherlands and contains 4,2
campus that is based on a routing that connects all buildings
along the main route of the campus. The library is one of
million books. Beside the books there are 300 workstations,

1000 study places and an auditorium. On the ground level
on the first floor. This comes from the master plan for the
on the first floor.
there are 6 shops (only reachable from the outside) and a
When you pass the entrance on ground level there are two
Next to the library there is a parking garage that is
from the first floor in the main atrium. Form there you are
coffee corner (main entrance).
incorporated inside the ensemble, so both volumes appear

like one building.
wide stairs, which end together with the entrance route

inside the hart of the library.
From the outside the building shows slightly some of its
inside organisation, showing the storages rooms as closed

boxes in the faade does this.
The first time you approach the building it is not completely

clear where the main entrance is. And when you found it
the route to the actually library starts from there.
05. Utrecht Library & Royal Danish Library
25
1.03 Plans
The library has 8 floor plans in total, this is included the
The in-between floor acts like a service floor, it gives the
first floor. Al the floor plans contain several voids, and most
some book cupboards and workplaces) to the back part of
ground floor and the floor in-between the ground floor and
of them are going through the main atrium by sky bridges.
Because of those voids you can see other parts of the library,
visitor access to the auditorium and provides a route (with

the ground floor.
and you cannot easily see how to get there. This makes the
routing inside the library quite interesting, because you can

really explore all the hidden study and workplaces.
Because of the extended entrance of the building the
ground floor consists only a small part of public library, that

part is at the back of the building. To get there you have to
do some effort. Because after entering the library with the
two stairs, you have to take two different stairs and cross a
part of the in-between floor to reach there.
Plan level 0 | S 1:500
26
Plan level | S 1:500
The main part of the ground floor is reserved for employees
After you start the routing inside the library and go up
reachable from the outside, and a coffee corner when you
library is shifting around the main atrium. And also that
and storage. Beside that there are several shops (only

passed the main entrance.
A sky bridge that is connected to the main building of the
university of Utrecht gives the opportunity to go to the

first floor of the library. This entrance coincides with the
entrance from the ground floor, and than goes straight into
to the sixth floor, you can see that the public space of the
for example the fifth floor has almost no surface left for
the public library. This is really showing the ideas of the

architect, to shift the public and non-public spaces inside
and through each other.
the atrium of the library. So there is a sort of pre entrance

space before you enter the library itself.
The library starts at the first floor in the middle of the
atrium, and from there the routing inside the library begins.
27
section
lenght
section
cross
28
When you approach the library it looks like a closed box
despite the huge transparent faade. That closed appearance
comes from the materials that are used in the faade, to start
with the sun protecting print on the glass.
Beside the big glass surfaces there are concrete panels used
in the faade. Those panels reveal some of the inside of the
library, because the ones with a texture on it covering the

storage rooms of the library.
The facades make the building look like a big rectangular

box, but are not showing the staggered floor plans inside.
North elevation | S 1:500
West elevation | S 1:500
South elevation | S 1:500
29
The cross section is showing the atrium of the library, here
you can see the sky bridges which are going through the
atrium. It is also showing the main staircase that connects
all the floors together around the atrium.
The length section is showing the extended entrance thats
ending in the atrium. And which route you have to take,
when you want to the ground floor in the back of the library.
Beside the entrance it also shows the atrium that is dividing
the building into two boxes.
Section cross | S 1:500
Section lenght | S 1:500
30
2. Context
2.01 Situation
The library is part of the university campus of Utrecht
(Uithof ), which is situated on the east side of the city
of Utrecht. After the university moved to the Johanna

polder around 1960 it contained only several independent
buildings.
To make the buildings on the campus more connected to

each other, Rem Koolhaas and Art Zaaijer designed in
1983 an urban plan, which provided in that desire.
In the plan the campus had a layout with an entrance zone,

the strip zone and an care / company zone.
Until now this plan is still the base where the campus is
growing on.
university library Utrecht
City plan | S 1:5000
31
2. Context
2.02 Plot structure
The structure of the plot is a rectangle that is in a strict
grid, which is connected to the strip. The plot is except for
the east side, because this side is connected to another plot,

surrounded by bike paths.
On the north side of the plot there is the central axis of the
campus, this axis consists only a road for busses and provides
the entrance of the campus by public transport. The south
side of the plot is accessible by a road that provides in the

logistics of the library and its parking garage.
Site plan | S 1:1000
32
2. Context
2.03 Morphology
The morphology of the campus was set up around 1960
The street pattern is extended by Zaaijer, but is still based
elements. With a strictly orthogonal grid of roads,
the campus from the west side (centre of Utrecht), there
by Van der Steur, this masterplan held strong functionalist

orientation from north to south and from east to west.
This orthogonal grid provided a number of square building

plots that were supposed to held one or more faculties.
Around 1980 the university asked Art Zaaijer, OMA
on the orthogonal plan of Van der Steur. When you enter

starts a grid of roads with a clear west-east orientation (that
grid includes the strip). This grid is ending by two northsouth roads on the west and east side.
(Office of Metropolitan Architecture), to rethink about the

masterplan for the campus. Because the campus contained
several independent buildings, that were not collaborating

with each other.
Zaaijer developed a plan that took into account the already

executed grid of roads and buildings. The plan of Zaaijer
consisted a main strip that connected the campus by a

boulevard.
City plan | S 1:5000
33
2. Context
2.03 Morphology
Because of the strict grid of roads, the site patterns are
entrance, and the strip is clearly connecting the entrance
side of the campus.
On the site pattern plan you can see the new master plan
The building pattern is because of the new urban plan of
is not showing the clear grid that is the base of the campus.
mostly following that grid.
of Zaaijer coming up. Two building clusters accentuate the
with the east side of the campus (care and companies).
Zaaijer slowly becoming denser around the strip and east
But without the roads or site patterns the building pattern
Street pattern | S 1:10000
Site pattern | S 1:10000
Building pattern | S 1:10000
34
2. Context
2.04 Relation
The campus has no direct relation to the city of Utrecht
After starting with the new urban plan of Zaaijer, the
1960. One of the advantages of being outside the city is the
each other. When you look at the layout of the campus
anymore, because it moved to the border of the city around

accessibility of the campus by car, and the possibilities for
increasing.
building clusters on the campus became more related to
today, there is a clear relation between the entrance zone,

strip (boulevard) zone and behind that the care / companies
NS
zone.
The strip is responsible for the relation and orientation on

the campus, because of the urban planning and the public
serving functions to the campus. Just like the library that is
A28
Utrecht
A2
city centre
NS
in the middle of the strip.
Uithof campus
A27
NS

Entrance building ensemble
The strip
Care / companies
A12
35
2. Context
2.05 Access
The plot can be reached from the north, south and west.
Not from the east because there it is connected to another
building. The entrance to the plot from the west is directly
the access to the building, there are several shops that are
reachable from the street.
The north access has a wide sidewalk that is in-between
the buss lane and the main entrance of the building. In the
sidewalk there is a bike path that gives direct access to the
parking garage for bikes.
The south side of the plot is reachable by a road that gives
access to the parking garage for cars, and supplies the library.
Primary access
Secondary access
36
3. Exterior
3.01 Volume
The library building of Utrecht consists of three main
volumes. The ground level has a completely transparent
faade which shows the passer-by the activities in the
elements sticking out of the building is the footbridge which

connects the library with to the main campus building.
building. Because of the fully transparent windows the
commercial spaces can show their products to the passer-by.

On top of the glass ground level are two volumes that are
connected with each other by the use of same materials and
grid. These volumes consist of a volume used for car parking

and a main volume as the library. The volumes are not
physical connected but the connection with semitransparent

windows brings cohesion between the volumes.
A third volume is located on the north and west faade,

which has another concrete surface finishing. This volume is
cantilevered on the Westside of the building which creates a
roof above the secondary entrance. Above the main ground

floor entrance is also a cantilevered box created which is a
part of the public lecture hall. One of the most eye-catching
West elevation - transparant ground level | S 1:500
West elevation - library | S 1:500
West elevation - campus entrance | S 1:500
37
3. Exterior
3.02 Access
There are two kinds of entrances to access the library. The
building are only used by employees and logistics.
doors. The main access, consisting of two revolving doors, is
south side. The foot- and bicycle entrance is located at the
access of the building on ground floor is by three revolving

located at the North side of the building which is directed
to the main road of the campus. The second revolving door

is at the corner of the North and West elevation but is also
used often because it is easier to access when students travel
by bus. The second entrance of the library is by a footbridge
The car parking has its own entrances on the north and
north side of the building which is connected to the strip,
the main road of the campus. At the south side and the back
of the building is the entrance for cars and a little entrance
to access the staircase.
on the first level. This footbridge connects the library

building with the main campus building. All buildings
on the campus are connected with footbridges which give

students the possibility to travel without having troubles
with the weather elements.
On ground level are commercial spaces located which
have their own entrance on the west side of the building.
Public entrance
Private entrance
This part of the faade is retracted to give a little shelter

above the entrances. The entrances on the south side of the
38
Isometry
39
3. Exterior
3.03 Threshold
The library has two entrances; the first entrance is located
on the ground level which is connected to the main road
and axis of the campus. The second entrance is a footbridge

which connects the library building with the main campus
building on the first floor. The actual library is located on
the first floor which is connected by a transition zone from

the two entrances. This transition zone can be seen as a
hard threshold for the library because you must walk up
two stairs and hallways to get in the library. This threshold

is displayed in the section.
To enter the building on ground floor visitors must pass
a revolving door so is a physical and hard threshold. The

ground floor entrances have a cantilevered box above
that creates a visual and smooth threshold in front of the

entrances. The footbridge on the first floor is a gentle slope
to the building whereby it can be defined as a smooth
threshold to the building.
Hard threshold
Smooth threshold
Section | S 1:500
40
3. Exterior
The composition of the faade has a functional and
linear grid. The faade elements which are transparent or
closed are all fitted in the same grid. All faade elements
have the measurements adjusted on the floor heights and
construction. The faade elements are 1,60 by 3,45 meters

which creates a linear grid with the seams of the faade
elements. The sunscreens are in closed conditions of the
same measurements as the normal elements which dont

interrupt the grid.
Behind the faades grid lays another grid, it is a structural

grid that has the proportions of four juxtaposed faade
elements. This steel frame has grid dimensions of 6,45 by

3,45 meters.
Closest plane
The cantilevered elements that come out of the faade

with smooth concrete have another grid. This grid has a
functional purpose and doesnt have a contribution to the

appearance of the building.
Furthest plane
41
3. Exterior
The volume of the building and its faade doesnt have much
depth differences. The faade elements are all in the same
plan despite of the difference in thickness. At the north
and west side of the building are cantilevered elements that

come out of the faade which creates a depth difference. The
materialization reinforces the experience of the cantilevered

elements. These elements are part of the public footbridge
which is an entrance of the library. On the north side of the
building is a second object that comes out of the faade; this

box is a part of the lecture hall. These cantilevered elements
are situated above the entrances on ground level except for
the footbridge which is an entrance in itself.
Closest plane
Furthest plane
42
3. Exterior
The faade consists of two kind of transparent elements. Most
of the transparent parts in the faade are semitransparent.

The faade must have certain requirements to prevent high
internal heating. The architect made a choice to make a
diffuse print of willow stems on the glass. The white print
of willow stems is build up from white dots that prevent

sunlight to penetrate the building but let light come into
the building. Some parts of the faade are fully transparent

for the workplaces that are located near the faade. This
gives students or visitors the possibility to have a clear view

to the surrounding of the building. The fully transparent
elements have sunscreens which will be opened or closed at

specific parts of the day. These moving sunscreens have the
same print with willow stems whereby the faade becomes

fully semitransparent in closed situation of the sunscreens.
Secondary transparent plane

Primary transparent plane
43
3. Exterior
The architect used two kinds of materials to clad the faade.
parts in the faade. In closed condition the faade looks
different surface finishes. The glass is used as full transparent
The decorative concrete is also executed with a print of
These materials, glass and concrete, are executed with
for sight and semitransparent for light transmittance but to

block sunlight. The concrete used in the faade is used for
two different purposes. The decorative concrete with relief
print is used for the closed storing spaces which dont need
sunlight. The smooth concrete is only used for the space of

the transition zone which visitors use before entering the
library.
fully semitransparent.
willow stems. The print is molded into the concrete in a
relief form. The pattern doesnt have a second meaning, but
has a kind of cohesion with the print on the glass elements.

The smooth concrete has remarkable elements in it which
are made during the manufacturing. The details on the
smooth surfaces are tie rods from the moldings.
The semitransparent glass elements are executed with a

white print that illustrates willow stems. The willow stems
are printed as white dots which ensure a prevention of

internal heating. The fully transparent elements are located
in the faade near workplaces. The transparent elements

used for sight which raise the comfort of the building have
sunscreens. The sunscreens are semitransparent just like the
Glass
Semitransparant glass
Steel
Natural stone
44
3. Exterior
3.06 Ornaments
Illestiae. Vidus demporro dictur? Quis aut am volori venet
Quis aut am volori venet prae pa culliasperum sunt officto
apiti quam exped quosam dis destint ommoluptat volupta
ommoluptat volupta tusdaest, omniscidem il idestrum ium
prae pa culliasperum sunt officto odicte voluptam aut
tusdaest, omniscidem il idestrum ium explati aut earumquam

esciaep tatiore min prepe consequi ulpa coribus, sequaspel
excerib usaeper iorest magnatur, occus et, exernatem iliquia

commolo rioria cus alignis doloraes debit, tem. Ditatat
maximil luptatem restium fugitempore doluptionet ut into
erum eum resto consequo inulpa con pro ipsum verro is evel
eos aborest earuptas idis mi, que velibus et, nem que peliquo
maxim abores qui comnis doluptatem aut ipisim fugiand
estiae.
odicte voluptam aut apiti quam exped quosam dis destint
explati aut earumquam esciaep tatiore min prepe consequi
ulpa coribus, sequaspel excerib usaeper iorest magnatur,

occus et, exernatem iliquia commolo rioria cus alignis
doloraes debit, tem. Ditatat maximil luptatem restium
fugitempore doluptionet ut into erum eum resto consequo
inulpa con pro ipsum verro is evel eos aborest earuptas

idis mi, que velibus et, nem que peliquo maxim abores qui
comnis doluptatem aut ipisim fugiand estiae.
Quos dest am a conetur sum sequi autendem. Namus,

ipsam, voluptasimi, qui quos pe nusam endae. Faceatet
Bearibu saperfe rspictesciet latur, quis atia volenis eum
faccupta esti tem eritatur, net vellit rerunt estias nit, adi vit
Ornament
ccupta esti tem eritatu Illestiae. Vidus demporro dictur?
Sunscreens in the facade
Fig. 4 Part of facade, sunscreens
45
3. Exterior
WILLOW STEMS
faccupta esti tem eritatur, net vellit rerunt estias nit, adi vit
Vidus demporro dictur? Quis aut am volori venet prae pa
Quis aut am volori venet prae pa culliasperum sunt officto
culliasperum sunt officto odicte voluptam aut apiti quam
exped quosam dis destint ommoluptat volupta tusdaest,

omniscidem il idestrum ium explati aut earumquam
esciaep tatiore min prepe consequi ulpa coribus, sequaspel
excerib usaeper iorest magnatur, occus et, exernatem iliquia

commolo rioria cus alignis doloraes debit, tem. Ditatat
maximil luptatem restium fugitempore doluptionet ut into
erum eum resto consequo inulpa con pro ipsum verro is evel
eos aborest earuptas idis mi, que velibus et, nem que peliquo
maxim abores qui comnis doluptatem aut ipisim fugiand
estiae.
ccupta esti tem eritatu Illestiae. Vidus demporro dictur?

odicte voluptam aut apiti quam exped quosam dis destint
ommoluptat volupta tusdaest, omniscidem il idestrum ium

explati aut earumquam esciaep tatiore min prepe consequi
ulpa coribus, sequaspel excerib usaeper iorest magnatur,

occus et, exernatem iliquia commolo rioria cus alignis
doloraes debit, tem. Ditatat maximil luptatem restium
fugitempore doluptionet ut into erum eum resto consequo
inulpa con pro ipsum verro is evel eos aborest earuptas

idis mi, que velibus et, nem que peliquo maxim abores qui
comnis doluptatem aut ipisim fugiand estiae.
Quos dest am a conetur sum sequi autendem. Namus,

ipsam, voluptasimi, qui quos pe nusam endae. Faceatet
Decorative concrete
Glass with print
Bearibu saperfe rspictesciet latur, quis atia volenis eum
Fig. 5 Glass with print
Fig. 6 Print on concrete facade elements
46
4. Interior
4.01.1 Routing
The internal routing is an important aspect of the building
Every level is accessible from the atrium except for the
the entrance of the building which lead you to the atrium
level visitors must first go through the in between level. On
and is separated in two main routes. The first route is after

and entrance of the library. This route forces you to walk
two stairs to get to the main level. When people come into
the building with the footbridge connected to the main
campus building they immediately can get to the atrium
without taking stairs. It is a simple linear route which is
understandable and visible. The next route takes place in
the atrium, which also forces you to take a couple of stairs
that are hanging in the atrium. The transition zones of every
floor are located in the atrium by hanging footbridges.

When walking these footbridges the whole atrium and
studying people can be seen and other visitors can see you.
Because the most transition zones takes place in the core
ground floor. To get to the studying places on the ground
the first and main floor is also a study area in the South side
of the building which is hanging above the ground level
workplaces. These places can only be accessed by crossing

the second floor which is connected to this island with a
stair.
On every floor there is a little transition space, to access

all functions on the floor everyone must cross certain areas
with specific functions. These zones have another function
than transition, but make it possible to walk through it.

There are walking paths so you can cross the area to get to
other areas such as studying places.
of the building, the atrium, the building has an openly
Routing visitors
atmosphere.
47
Length section | S 1:500
48
49
4. Interior
To understand and use the building you need to know where
mostly used for the storage and distribution of books. The
The south side of the sixth floor is used for storing and
from the atrium and are mainly used for displaying books
the lecture hall. The first floor is the first library floor has a
which need specific climatic conditions.
the public spaces are. All public spaces are visible accessible
and studying or reading. To get there is not so easy because
the public and non-public spaces are intertwined. On every

level the public and non-public spaces are shifting between
sides separated by the atrium and are shifting at each floor.

The non-public areas can be seen as closed boxes in the
open space of the library. These spaces are fully cladded with
black decorative concrete which is a very present element
in the building. The closed private parts of the building are
storage or archive spaces. Every floor has a very different
layout which makes it difficult to understand the use of the
building by visitors.
On the ground floor is only a little area accessible for the
visitor, the non-accessible space is used for storage and
distribution of incoming books. The in between floor is also
50
public space is used as transition zone to the next level and

much more open character and more public space which
displaying a historical and important collection of books
is visible connected through this open space of the atria.

The second and third floors are accessible for visitor on the
South side of the atrium. The space on the other side of the
atrium is non-public but has an open administrating and
closed storage function. The fourth and fifth floor both have
the public space on the North side of the atrium which is
in contrast to the underlying floors. The ratio public and
non-public is also very different because these floors have a
very limited public space. The sixth floor on the other hand
is almost fully public and is designed with a double ceiling
height. The sixth floor consists of two sort of public areas
Public area
Private area
divided by the atrium. The North side is used for displaying
books and studying just as the rest of the public spaces.
51
52
4. Interior
4.02 Construction
The Utrecht university library has a concrete portal
big overhanging parts that almost doesnt look possible.
meters between the portals. These portals are connected
consist of one of the strongest concrete that is used for
construction that is designed on a strict grid of almost 13

with floors to four main structural cores. The structural
concrete cores are used for the distribution of books and
emergency access and are in normal settings only accessible

for employees. The portal construction is only fully visible
The solution of this is that some structural walls and discs
building purposes. The steel construction that lays behind

de faade consists of four juxtaposed elements with a
measurement of 6,45 by 3,45 meters.
in the atrium but on floor level are the structural elements
visible as structural walls. Every floor has a different plan

with other cut outs whereby the structural elements like to
shift on every floor. The dimensions of the structural disks
provide a wall-kind perception of the elements on floor level.

Most disks have a width between thirty or forty centimeters
and a variety of lengths from two and four meters.
Behind the glass faade lays a structural steel grid that
is supporting the faade from external factors, but it also

supports some cantilevered floors. Some floors have very
Structural elements
Floors
53
Section length | S 1:500
54
55
4. Interior
4.03 Use of spaces
The building consists of a commonly use of spaces except
each other. The floors with a large public space have also
spaces that are used for commercial purposes. The other
floor has a room where visitors can refresh themselves.
of the ground floor. The glass ground level has exceptional

accessible spaces are only used as transition area to the main
library floor. The main spaces are non-accessible and are used
for the storage and distribution of books. The next floor, the
in between level, is also mainly used to store and distribute
books but has also a lecture hall which is used for public
purposes. The first floor is the main floor of the library and
meeting spaces in form of glass gathering rooms. Also every

The non-public spaces are mainly used for storing books,
but on the first and second floor also for administrational
purposes. Every floor has spaces that are used for storing
books which are not accessible for visitors except of the

sixth floor.
had multiple usages of spaces. This floor has all usages such
Commercial
Reading / studying
Reading
Searching
Storing
Administrating
Refreshing
as reading, meeting, searching, storing, administrating and

refreshing. In the library the public space on every floor has
study or reading places connected with book cupboards were

people can search for information. With this connection
are short walking distances created. The space between
the different usage zones can be used for transition. The
different usages are just like the floors intertwined with
56
57
58
4.04 Sequence of spaces

The building has a discrete entrance on the ground floor,
to the next floors which attracts people to go to that level
the library itself. To enter the library visitors must follow a
stairs they arrive in the last space, the entrance of the library.
but when people get inside they are not immediately in
route that consists of a specific sequence of spaces. Between

the entrance of the building and the entrance of the library
is a certain sequence of spaces. Because the building has

two entrances the visitor can follow two sequences of
spaces which both lead to the last space and entrance of the
library. From the ground level entrance the visitor enters
and next step in the sequence. When visitors walk up the
At this space visitors get a view of the internal structure of
the library so know that they are arrived. It is clear that the
architect deferred the real entrance of the library to the first
level. So the steps in this sequence of spaces are a kind of
threshold for the library.
the building in a small hallway. It is a narrow space with
a low ceiling, a concrete wall and columns in front of the
glass faade. At the end of this hallway is a stairs visible that

shows the next step in the sequence and attracts visitors to
get further into the building. At the end of this hallway, in

front of the stairs, is the next space of the sequence. Here
the ceiling is two storeys high and people can see up to two
levels higher. The clearly present stairs shows a strong route
Approach building from buss stop | 1
After main entrance | 2
Floor level 0 | showing viewpoints
59
5
3
section length | showing view points
In front of stairs to the atrium | 3
Entrance from the first floor | 4
Entrance to the actual library | 5
60
4. Interior
There are a couple of different smooth thresholds and
one hard threshold in the building. The hard threshold is

physical and the smooth thresholds are visual. This is the
same with transition areas, the hard transition is physical

and the smooth transitions zones are less physical. The
transition area between the pre-entrance and the entrance
of the library has hard and smooth thresholds. Visitors enter
the building by a revolving door so it is a hard threshold.

Once entered the building the first narrow hallway ends
with a significant difference in ceiling height which creates
a smooth and visual threshold. The library has thresholds on

every floor and are located at the places were the transition
zones go from the atrium to the floors. So during the
transition from the footbridges in the atrium to the floors
is a big difference in ceiling height present. This mutation
of ceiling height and openness leads to a visual threshold.
Hard threshold
Smooth threshold
Hard transition
Smooth transition
61
62
63
4. Interior
4.06 Spatial order and proportion
The building has an understandable spatial order from
much narrower so visitors cannot see the entire atrium. The
six spaces that follow after each other until the main space
has the largest dimensions. The sixth space is the main
entering the building to the entering the atrium. There are
fifth and sixth spaces are both atrium, but the last space
of the building, the atrium. The first space is a low ceiled
atrium which dimensions are the full width and height of
narrow hallway. The second space is the footbridge that
the building. The large dimensions suggest that this space is
connects the building with the main campus building. This
most important and core of the building.
is a long passageway that with also a low ceiling. The third
room is connected with space one and two. Seen from space
one the third space has a significant higher ceiling and is
visible much bigger because it consists of three storeys. Seen

from space two, space three is much wider and has cut outs
in floor and ceiling. The fourth space is an extension of the
third space but is wider and has no voids. It is a kind of
closed portal to the first part of the atrium. The fifth space
is the first part of the atrium that has a lower ceiling than
the second part, the sixth space. This space is divided by
Sequence of spaces
a two-storey high concrete constructional portal and is
5
4
2
3
1
Section schematic | S 1:500
64
65
4. Interior
The internal spatial hierarchy on floor level is divided
by served, hybrid and serving spaces. From the visitors

perspective; the spaces where the book cupboards are
located are the served areas. These areas are served by the
workplaces and the transition areas. The workplaces are also

important for the visitor and served by the transition space
which makes it hybrid areas. The spaces that are only used
for transition are the serving areas.
Every floor has a mix of book cupboards and workplaces
that are accessible by the transition area. To get certain

workplaces visitors must cross the walkways between the
book cupboards. The kind of organization at each floor
fluctuates, but workplaces must have advantages of the
incoming light. Therefore the workplaces are located near
Served
Hybrid
Serving
the faade.
66
67
68
4. Interior
The architect uses the same concrete materialization in the
functional purpose; it reflects light into the building. Some
two different kinds of surface finishes. The non-public or
color to show where important informational points are
interior as in the exterior. The black concrete is divided with

storage spaces are executed in black decorative concrete
elements. The decorating surfaces with relief are molded
with a print of willow stems just like the print on the
glass faade. The public spaces are not closed with black
decorative elements, but have smooth concrete parapets.

This surface of this concrete is completely smooth with the
interior elements in the building have a red contrasting
such as information desks or interactive computers. The
workplaces have bright tables to increase concentration

when visitors look to the white pages of a book. The bright
color of the workplaces, mostly located near the faade, have

also a contribution of the light reflection into the building.
marks of tie rods. This kind of surface finishing has a much

more structural and functional appearance.
The architect made a reference to the old libraries with the

black color of the interior. These old libraries are fitted out
with dark wood whereby visitor would realize that it were

places of contemplation in which was very little light.
In contrast with the black walls and construction is the
floor with its white and shiny surface. This surface has a
Section | S 1:20
Plan level 4| S 1:500
69
4. Interior
Visitors entering the main library space will immediately see
black painted which gives a high contrast with the bright
eye catching element of the building is the construction.
acoustic elements used which are also executed in black. The
one of the most characteristic elements of the building. This

It consists of structural portals with a functional smooth
surface. The dimensions of these black portals which look

like high structural walls are characteristic for the interior
floor. On top and at the end faces of the bookshelves are

black color of the book cupboards is very dominant in the
experience of the floor space.
experience of the building.
The second distinctive interior elements are the hanging
footbridges which are used for the access to higher floors.

The black concrete footbridges cross the atrium above each
other which creates a kind of catwalk. Every visitor walking

on these footbridges can see the working students and the
student can see them. To get further into the building all
people need to take these hanging walkways if they dont

take the elevator.
On a higher level of detail the book cupboards are important

present interior elements. The book cupboards are fully
Floor
Bookshelves and footbridges
Concrete construction
Perspective with bookcupboards and floor
Air bridges, stairs and columns as elements in the atrium
70
Section cross | S 1:500 spatial elements
4. Interior
In the whole building are architectonic details that are
clearly visible for its users. This important architectonic
detail is the contrast of the difference in concrete surface

finishing. This designers choice has a function related
background. The non-public space or storage floors are
completely closed and cladded with a decorative surface.

The public space and the constructional elements are
executed with a smooth surface finishing. So the transition
of public and non-public space is distinctive by the two

different surface finishes against each other. So every floor
that is accessible has a concrete beam to the end face of the

floor which can be seen in the understanding pictures with
a red color. The structural beam creates a kind of threshold
when visitors enter the floor spaces from the footbridges.
Decorative concrete
Smooth concrete
Concrete construction
This detail makes clear that the decorative elements are only
used for the closed boxes so it is an ornament.
Perspective with different concrete surfaces
Section | S 1:20
71
Conclusive drawings
Conclusive drawing | routing
When you approach the building, there is immediately
and at the same moment the atrium, the hart of the library.
on the stairs, you can look through the library floors. This is
building is, and so where the routing starts. Because of
you are more isolated from the world outside the library.
you need to go somewhere straight it takes a long time to
some confusing about where the main entrance of the
the materialization of the faade and there are some shops
This extended entrance gives more serenity to the library,
beside the entrance that attract your attention, before you
When you finally enter the library you are directly in the
The library has three main entrances, two on the ground
hart of the library from where the routing inside the library
see where the entrance of the library is.
floor and one on the first floor, which can be reached from
the main building of the university.
After you enter the building on the ground floor you arrive
in a space that can be seen as the pre entrance for the
library itself. The actual entrance of the library is extended
and appears after you pass two stairs and a part of the in-
between floor. After you have taken the stairs up to the first
level, the entrance route from the main building coincides
with the route from the ground floor.
From that moment you are in front of the actual entrance,
a nice idea for when you are exploring the library, but when
get there fast.
middle of the main atrium. This atrium can be seen as the
starts, and guides you around through the public areas on

the different floors.
The main route inside the library goes through the staircase
in the atrium. But there are some stairs that gives you a
short cut, or get you somewhere you cannot reach without

that stairs.
The routing on the main stairs in-between the first and

third floor looks like a sort of catwalk through the library.
Everyone who is walking on the stairs can be seen from
several floors inside the library. And when you are walking
Entrances of the library
Pre-entrance of the library
Actual routing through the library
72
Conclusive drawings
Conclusive drawing | composition
From exterior straight box, to interior diversity
The organization of those floor plans supports the internal
volume, to a diverse and open interior floor layout.
spaces. By shifting the public space around the atrium it
Transition of the rectangular and closed exterior box

The library appears as a huge box next to the strip on the
campus, but when you enter that box there is a variety of

volumes and open spaces. With this drawing we show how
the box volume is transforming to the diverse volumes and
relation and diversity between public and non-public

looks like a chaotic organization of the library, but actually
the visitor is automatically circling through the library
without noticing it.
spaces inside the library. And how the internal organisation
The facades make the building look like a normal rectangular
us a hint about what is happing inside the library, but that
appears a diverse and spatial designed interior.
is connected to the external faade. Because the faade gives

is still not comparable with the diversity of floors surfaces
shaped library, but when you take the facades away there
and voids inside.
The rectangular box is divided into two parts by the main
atrium. To make the interior space more diverse and related

to each other, volumes were carved out and adjusted to the
main volume. This resulted in a different layout for each
floor plan.
Exterior box volume
Divided into two volumes

by atrium
6th floor
Carved out main volume

5th floor
Public (library)
Non-public
4th floor
3th floor
2th floor
1th floor
1/2 floor
ground floor
Relation facade and interior organization
73
Literature
Books
Webpages
Figures
Birkhauser
culture/the-royal-library/description
http://www.architectenwerk.nl/box/archief.2005.0607.htm
Schmidt, Hammer, Lassen. (2008). Outline. Basel.
Schmidt, Hammer, Lassen. (2010). Schmidt Hammer Lassen

Buildings. Memphis. General Books
http://www.librar ybuildings.info/denmark/blackdiamond-royal-danish-library
Beek M, 2005, Living library, prestel, munich
http://www.kb.dk/en/dia
Detail Magazine, 03/2005
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/copenhagen/sort_diamant_
Reinink, A.W., 1984, Van Johannapolder tot Uithof,

Historische Reeks Utrecht nr. 04,
copenhagen.htm
2. Library from the north side
http://www.archdaily.com/136377/utrecht-library-wielarets-architects/
3. Main atrium
http://archinect.com/features/article/92824/showcaseuniversity-library-ubu-utrecht
http://www.dac.dk/visKanonVaerk.asp?artikelID=2604
4. Part of facade, sunscreens
http://www.aok.dk/byliv/det-kongelige-bibliotek-den-
arets-architects/
sorte-diamant#what:Byliv
http://www.archined.nl/oem/reportages/ubu/ubu.html
http://www.archdaily.com/136377/utrecht-library-wielarets-architects/section-480/
http://aureon.nl/architectuur/bibliotheek-utrecht/
http://www.cumbu.com/university-library-ubu-utrechtby-wiel-arets-architects
http://www.archdaily.com/136377/utrecht-library-wiel-
5. Glass with print
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/utrecht/utrecht_university_
library.htm
6. Print
on concrete facade elements
own source
7. Reflective black granite facade
http://shl.dk/eng/#/home/about-architecture/libraryculture/the-royal-library/images
http://www.ruutvanrossen.nl/De_Uithof/UBU.html
8. Overview of the enormous atrium
http://www.behance.net/kimzwarts/frame/679918
culture/the-royal-library/images
http://ubukaart.library.uu.nl/frames.html?ufloor=1&objcla
ss=1&noscale=0
http://archinect.com/features/article/92824/showcaseuniversity-library-ubu-utrecht
1. Main atrium
9. Big reading hall, view to the bookshelves
http://www.librar ybuildings.info/denmark/blackdiamond-royal-danish-library
10. Big reading hall, view to the atrium

Outline (2008), p. 41
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Book Part Essay Library Utrecht

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Book Part Essay Library Utrecht

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The Library

Presentation of the media

Knowledge for reputation (300 BC)

reader by a tag on the scroll. The presentation was done so

statements, events and discoveries. The history of these

of other cities, power was one of the main important aspects

of the scrolls. The focus was more on the meeting room

Contemporary libraries are the result of ancients

evolution. From the begin of noting information on

became necessary. Excavations show us nowadays how the

paintings, carved basements walls and tomb captions where

When major cities grew to empires and became independent

that it hardly only functions as an storage an preservations

to survive and extend. Not only manpower made this but

behind where the scrolls are stored.

deceases and wars. The great empires knew this and so

empire. Knowledge became a sort of power for a city.

could be considered the capital of knowledge and learning 7.

also knowledge was very important. Knowledge defeated

Just as Rome became the capital of the empire, Alexandria

one of the first manners to storage collected information.

Empires respond to this evolution an start using information

library of Alexandria, and started several libraries in there

When written information became more important for

start reading and writing about the human body, nature

The libraries in the Roman Empire were public buildings

other nations made It possible for the scholars to learn

people. The libraries were seen as a kind of entertainment

and more important its workspace. The buildings where

for the following libraries in the Roman Empire. The main

for an impressing presentation of the books8.

societies, nations needed those collected information.

evolution of the library will be explained by four representative

change of function and so their consequences, the topic will

Administration / Deposit (2500 BC)

When societies became more developed, major cities

started collecting information1 for the organization of their

city. Mostly this information was for the administration of

place for storage and preservation. Those places became the

All the information was written down on clay tablets,

to extend their knowledge and learn from others. Scholars

own Empire to compete with the library of Alexandria.

and the astronomy and. Collecting written knowledge from

and not only accessibly by the wealthy and high educated

the world. This all needed its own storage, preservation

appreciated by the inhabitants and empires became

The library in the city of Pergamon, was a layout library

The ancient library of Alexandria was placed in and serving

The libraries in Rome were no longer part of an institution,

to the mouseion of Alexandria. The library was connected

but public buildings. In practice the wealthy and high-

and Peripatos walks . Around the library there was a shared

citizens could not read.

The library itself contained an acquisitions department,

The library of Pergamon resembled the one in Alexandria,

papyrus scrolls. The exact layout of the mouseion with its

Alexandria. But the main difference that was made was

library was completely destroyed.

Because the Roman Empire chooses for an entertainment

The mouseion was a progressive library that already

Storage of the reading material was not hidden anymore

high amount of scrolls, the mouseion contained large halls

The presentation of the media gets an other influence,

representing the main room and so they get higher priority.