The Daegu Gosan Library celebrates a culturally rich and evolving demographic which places high value on intellectual growth. Such growth is a significant determinant in matters of upward social mobility and increased life opportunity. It can be a significant life-altering force for patrons of the library as well as the larger community which it serves. The Daegu Gosan Library stands as a temple to this knowledge. The library provides opportunities for both analog and digital intellectual trade and growth within the Suseong-gu community.

Location: Daegu, Korea
Architects: Jason Easter, Frisly Colop Morales, Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Adrian Yau
Area: 3200 sqm

Year: 2012

The Library book stacks are consolidated into a single volume creating an activated tribute to printed literature as the foundation of information transmission. In honoring the printed material in this way, a more open floor plan is freed for alternative information transmission typologies. The digital data space, reading room, children’s area and other programs flow off of a large atrium space providing a more flexible environment. This allows the interior spaces to adapt to the evolutions within intellectual and social media to maintain a quality learning environment.

The library’s proximity to the local subway station and a large public park make it a cultural hub. To cater to this opportunity, the northeast corner of the building retreats at the ground level extending the public space of the park into the site. The resulting sunken plaza creates a partially covered public space for community events. This void in the ground plane provides valuable natural daylight to the building functions located below grade. The life-long learning center and multi-purpose spaces surround this plaza allowing easy access by the community. Additional terraces on the second level and the roof connect the building back to the park and existing context.