Moser-10 ShibaRyotoaroMusem

THE LIBRARY AT THE SHIBA RYOTARO MEMORIAL MUSEUM

       This is an awesome library, it almost seems as though every facet in made out of books.  It’s almost overwhelming in a way, usually you can’t really judge the amount of books kept at a library.  Usually their numbers are kept condensed and concealed in rows of shelves.  The myriad of books not kept secret here, actually, almost to the opposite effect, perhaps there are less books then apparent.  Either way, I like the idea of in cooperating the books themselves to look as though they were part of the architecture.            

       From what I have seen thus far, Tadao Ando like to work in concrete and glass, he uses lots of natural light and his buildings play into the environment.    Sometimes I think his work feels a little cold, though I understand why he designs the way he does. This library is warm and uses lots of wood; it is not what I would commonly associate with the work of Tadao Ando.

Wood works well with books, both seem to have common ancestry and relationship with the environment.  I wonder if wood helps to preserve books better than concrete……

       Another aspect I really like about this library is the multiple heights seen in the Interior space. They are not floors nor are they lofts; more like multiple levels at different heights.   Without the multiple heights this library would probably looks vast and hallow.