La biblioteca

Abstract

Those who conceived the design wished to get past the classical concept of library to give to Salt Lake City an indelible landmark in its consolidated urban design. Looking at the plan a pleasing and delicate aspect of the composition is at once perceived, and the elements constituting it can be clearly read both architecturally and structurally. Particularly evident is the triangular main body - where the library, the reading rooms, the distribution spaces and the services to the various floors are found, the whole crystallized by an imposing full-module - height sheet of glass - which stands up five storeys and faces on an immense atrium called "The urban room". This space, enclosed by the curve designed by the plan of the entire complex, holds, besides the visitor lounging areas, also a small cavea for open-air events. The triangular body is a figure that gives stability and balance to the whole composition, both through the geometry chosen for it and through its dimensions, which make it predominate absolutely over the other figures (represented by the adjacent parallelepipedal building devoted to administration and by the curved building holding some of the reading rooms). The way the planted areas surrounding the building are set up is still tied to the idea of the Roman castrum, but then becomes complex in disorderly and discontinuous fashion. Forming part of the composition are three large conference rooms, of which two are symmetric ovals (with their seating distributed on two levels) and one circular. All bearing structures were built of reinforced concrete and their being much in evidence both in the facades and on the interiors is the true connotation of the oeuvre. The broad windows distributed over most of the façade assure an excellent natural lighting of the rooms, whether winter or summer. Two basement levels, having much more extensive floor areas than do the standing floors, complete the breakdown of the complex, while a single basement level, located outside the perimeter of the complex, holds parking spaces.