Ecosystem Library
A compact 1500 square foot library and community center designed for a diverse, youthful neighborhood in Toronto.
Project Details
Categories
Tags
Specifications
- Library
- Community center
- Cafe
- Computer lab
- Workshop space
- Performance areas
- Outdoor recreational spaces
- Compact footprint
- Multifunctional spaces
- Indoor/outdoor integration
- Seasonal adaptability
- Red brick exterior
- Natural light integration
- Sustainable materials
Introduction
The objective this project was to design a library and community center limited to 1500 square feet and exterior programmatic elements on the site of King Street West and Dufferin Street Toronto Ontario. The library is set in a densely populated part of the city that has a largely youthful and diverse population. Using this information as well as the information on climate and demographics that I have gathered from a site analysis, I have designed a library that serves the community in multiple ways with a dynamic atmosphere.
Site Plan
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Site plan for Ecosystem Library
Overview showing the integration of interior and exterior spaces with fluid connections.
About This Section
I have designed the shapes and soft corners to be a reflection of the fluidity of the environment that I have created as a part of my intention to merge the interior and exterior environment. This creation of a dynamic and fluid environment allows for people of several walks of life to feel welcome in the space and energizes them to be interactive with their environment and each other. The exterior has a tennis court, food trucks, a children's playground, a cafe patio, a pond that turns into an ice rink, walking paths, picnic spaces, an apple picking trail along the trees, a community garden, and a courtyard. While this is all outside, it interacts with the space with great fluidity.
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Conclusion
Ecosystem Library demonstrates how thoughtful space planning can create a vibrant community resource even within tight spatial constraints. By blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, and between different program elements, the design creates a building that feels much larger than its actual footprint. The project serves not just as a repository for books, but as a true community hub that responds to the diverse needs of its neighborhood.
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