GLEBE CENTER FOR BOOKARTS

This was our final project for the last semester of second year (studio III). It was a really interesting project because we actually started dealing with building codes and zoning ordinances. I really enjoyed this project and was really proud of the final result (it even got nominated for an award!) This whole semester was very emotional though and was just kind of a rough period, but also filled with some really happy memories as well. When I look at these images I am struck with so many images, smells and sounds from different things going on at this time. It sounds stupid but I can feel the unusually warm spring air in Montreal from my spontaneous excursion to see Miike Snow (one of the best days of my entire university experience).
For the Center for Bookarts were were supposed to draw inspiration from the book art we made Here is a brief abstract of the project:

"The center for book art is situated in the heart of the Glebe. Rich layers of a unique culture and history culminate on Bank Street, where historic buildings merge with contemporary culture. Textures are intertwined, with strong roots in masonry construction. The Center for Book Art is sensitive to the unique fabric of the Glebe while making a modern statement. Materiality plays an important role, showcasing an exercise in cast concrete. Different formwork is utilized to highlight the relationship between the concrete and its mould, as well as provide a variety of surface textures to interact with the senses. The Center for Book Arts explores modern treatments of space, inspired by the open floor plan of Le Corbusier. As an individual moves through the Center they are confronted with a series of experiences. The entrance dissolves the barrier between the street and the building, and highlights the traditional brick construction in contrast to cast concrete. The levels become a collage of experience, with the different programs dissolving into a continuous space. Levels are connected with light, sound and materiality. Moving through the space layering is conveyed through intersecting volumes. Lines and volumes are shifted to highlight a relationship with the surrounding buildings, as well as reveal directionality and utilize natural sunlight.
Ascending the main spiral stairs the volumes begin to be exposed, with a perception that shifts endlessly within the Center. Moving through the layers nooks become exposed, through skylights and terraces the spaces blend together with many different vantage points. An awareness of the space and how it was formed is created through viewing and experiencing it at different times and positions. The facade is formed from intersecting planes of dichroic glass. Light becomes reflected and refracted through the Center and the surrounding area, evoking further the idea of layering and time. Inherent in the properties of dichroic glass is its ability to change color depending on the angle and intensity of the sun, resulting in a unique experience each hour, day, and season. "