What to Read When Building a Library (Or, Is That a Mastodon in the Choir Loft?)

摘要

Architects are frequently asked about the philosophy and evolution of their designs. The genealogies of ideas, of course, are as diverse as the ideas themselves, and are often highly personal. But architects love this question. We can not only maunderwith the best of any professional group, but we also bring our own set of phrases to the work. I particularly like to think--and talk--about "reading" the "topography" of buildings. As we all know, you shouldn't set out to build something on a swamp. You can read that topography fairly easily, and what you read is what you get: a place inhospitable for construction. So. too, with buildings and their remodeling: If you read them carefully, they can make some decisions about design for you.