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"Adventure in a Library" by Lena Johnson
When I think of libraries, I think of spaces that are quiet and oftentimes dull. They are not places that I would go to in order to seek adventure. In a library, there are many rules and regulations concerning human behavior. And I know that rules and regulations do not make for good adventures. On a recent trip to Washington, I decided to go to the Seattle Central Library to inspect its architectural design as I had heard great things about it. I approached the new library last May as the sky was filled with clouds and the air with a fine mist. My intention was to photograph the exterior facade only but when I got there, I was compelled to enter as I could see through the walls that there were people moving about in the space. I was curious and eager for a new adventure that would take my mind off the gloomy day. As I entered the library, I saw around me all types of people of every social strata. The feeling of community was immediately evident as office workers congregated to enjoy their lunch and the homeless found shelter from the rain and cold. As I wandered through the Library, I was delighted by intense colors, bright metals, high gloss surfaces and a ceiling of glass that allows one to look skyward. I could see this architects rationale. His design decisions were based in part on the local climatic conditions of Seattle. His choices of materials and finishes speed up the pulse, excite the senses, reflect existing light and diminish any feelings of depression that come from cloudy skies and rainy days. I had forgot about what was going on outside. I was totally engaged in an exploration of the space. I only had a few hours to shoot and used natural light exclusively in these photos. This Library made me feel like Alice in Wonderland as I wandered vibrantly colored hallways, staircases and escalators and peered down from the balconies on tiny people below, and without their knowing, I captured them through my lens, making them a permanent part of my wonderful new adventure.... |
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Architect Rem Koolhaas has broken all the rules in his design of the Seattle Central Library which has achieved international acclaim for it's dramatic design concept and dynamic use of space. Seattle voters showed their progressive spirit in 1998 by approving the largest library bond issue ever submitted in the U.S. at that time. With a grand vision of excellence, the administration of the library states, "Our mission is to become the best public library in the world by being so tuned in to the people we serve and so supportive of each other's efforts that we are able to provide highly responsive service."
An international competition for the library design was held with twenty-nine architectural participating. Rem Koolhaas was the surprise winner as he had no major structures built in the U.S. at that time. A year later, Koolhaas was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize, the highest international award in the architectural industry. This 11 floor, 362,987 square foot library has been described as "a dazzling avant-garde symphony of glass and form," with unique features such as a public "living room" of 50 feet in height where the community gathers on rainy days to relax, browse new books and even sleep...
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Lena Johnson's search for perfection has yielded hundreds of museum quality fine art photographs. Her travels around the world are represented here as images of beauty and energetic color that reveal her vision of the consciousness of space and place...
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