Glas, Ziegel und Beton - Umbau und Erweiterung der »Landschaftsbibliothek« in Aurich

摘要

The original library buildings are 19th century and were extended in 1963-1964 by a rigorous brick- work building used as stockroom. The present additions provide an open-shelf library with the new buildings lightly enclosing the remaining open end of the site. The reading room, reached via the reception desks and under the wood-planked steel gangway, is a glass-covered large space between the existing building and new library. On the book gallery along the former external wall.are long rows of shelves with bound volumes, which look vulnerable in the bright light. Against direct sunlight textile roll blinds are provided, which can be extended along the steel roof beams. There is a superb view into the internal court with mature oaks. The specially designed tables of two parts, each with two legs, are an ingenious solution to a perennial need, both simple and stable (see details). Such stringency and-clarity in joining different elements and materials to each other, without disguising their function, can be found throughout the whole building, be it in the curtain wall of the north facade, the book gallery, steel stairs, gangway, window panels, glass roof... It is a joy to follow the choice of materials and the considered detailing, and the long journey to East Frisia is worth the while (image 2).%Wer von Ostfriesland nur die Ostfriesenwitze kennt, wird an das weite, flache Land mit Knicks und Gräben, Kühen und Weiden denken, wenn von der »Ostfriesischen Landschaft« die Rede ist. Aber das ist hier nicht gemeint, sondern eine kaum noch gebräuchliche Bedeutung des Wortes, die erst neben Begriffen wie Herrschaft oder Bürgerschaff plausibel wird -es geht um die Eigenständigkeit und Eigenart der Ostfriesen in geschichtlicher wie in kultureller Hinsicht.