click to enlarge

October 17, 2008

This year's AP211 Design Studio class traveled to Boston to investigate three of the libraries that were the focus of this semester's library design project. Of the day's many highlights, the fabulous lunch hosted by Board of Fellows member Virginia Houston; meeting Board members Jeff Holden and Harry Blackey; and then hanging out with Harry as we went through downtown Boston from Faneuil Hall to the Boston Public Library, stand out.

The day's triumph was getting the whole crew on the T (and off again) at the right place. And, it was especially fun having two Norwich students with us from the Czech Republic.

click to enlarge

The Library Project:

The second year design studio is focused on the typology of libraries. To help in expanding an understanding of the quality of libraries, the students were asked to create their own 'book.' Their books were to reinterpret the idea of book and therefore many were 'read' in very creative ways. The subject of their books expressed aspects of a library that intrigued them, either in a positive or in some cases a problematic manner.

click to enlargeFor Flux Wednesday, the school was invited down to the studio to 'read' their books. (The books were originally planned to be exhibited in a vending machine; thus the size constraint. Scott, the vending machine guy, disappeared but we are hoping to still make this happen.)

click to enlarge