Khumaltar Knowledge Hub Re-imagination of the public library

Abstract

Public library is the place where we go and get free access to the books, articles and journals. It is place where you can immerse yourself in a range of information or find databases and physical and digital materials such as images, manuscripts, documents etc. Classical libraries usually involved the collection of books, magazines and journals where you can study or borrow them for study. Specially in Nepal, we address most of the public libraries are limited to the place with collection of old books, manuscripts, journals etc. with very limited facilities. Therefore, in order to create the public space in urban settings through the creation of a vibrant cultural center with public library, the re/imagination of such ideal place is a urgent necessity. Hence, this project proposes a public library as a social equalizer and critical node of the community rather than just a temple of knowledge. This library provides the spaces to practice the bridging skills needed to work across the cultural as well as political amenities. Beside the public library the project defines about the social and communal spaces which support the user in full range of activities from solitary, focused work to large meeting, social gatherings and in between. It also proposes a spatial configuration that can bring the multiple functions together combining with the library space with other components such as, performance center, galleries, maker’s studio etc. In context to now where the public cultural institutions are lacking and there is a growing sense of the community isolations, this project attempts to knit the community together and become a resource for the city and its young populations. To the emerging sub city of Kathmandu lacking such common public facilities and cultural fabric, the project attempts to design such public libraries to revive them as cultural, recreational and learning spaces integrating with in between spaces like event lawns, plazas, air courts etc. I believe the public library in today are connective tissue in our fractured communities offering places where relationship can develop and people can learn to deal with differences and diversity. Thus, this project plays an attention to the way people experience a space and how an architecture can promote the better lifestyle outcomes with revival of such public realms.