https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/2695 en-us http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14477 Fri, 21 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14477-rahul-mehrotra-named-head-of-department-of-urban-planning-and-design-at-harvard-gsd goncharj@bnpmedia.com (Joann Gonchar, FAIA) A library in India brings daylight into the lowest levels of stacks and study areas.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13220 Thu, 01 Feb 2018 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13220-lilavati-lalbhai-library-by-rma-architects RMA’s library is the first building on the CEPT campus not designed by Balkrishna Doshi, the school’s founder. It defers to the earlier brick-and-concrete buildings but distinguishes itself with a much lighter facade made up primarily of operable wood louvers. Photo © Rajesh Vora RMA’s library is the first building on the CEPT campus not designed by Balkrishna Doshi, the school’s founder. It defers to the earlier brick-and-concrete buildings but distinguishes itself with a much lighter facade made up primarily of operable wood louvers. Photo © Tina Nandi To avoid exceeding the height of the existing campus buildings, the architects submerged three of the library’s six stories below grade. Light filters through the adjustable louvers, reaching almost to the building’s lowest levels. Photo © Rajesh Vora The library resembles a building within a building. The inner one has a skin of drywall and glass while the outer one is defined by the wood louvers. Photo © Tina Nandi Students, faculty, and visitors enter the lobby via a bridge that spans the interstitial space between the library’s inner and outer skins. Photo © Tina Nandi Students, faculty, and visitors enter the lobby via a bridge that spans the interstitial space between the library’s inner and outer skins. Photo © Tina Nandi Carrels and other study areas surround and are distributed among the book stacks. Photo © Tina Nandi Image courtesy RMA Architects Image courtesy RMA Architects Image courtesy RMA Architects Image courtesy RMA Architects Image courtesy RMA Architects