A library that really is for the people.....

I recently had the privilege of taking a tour of the 92% complete West Hollywood Library. I'd like to tell you all how cool this place is going to be….. To call it a library is actually very limiting, that's only one part of the program. Other areas include a new city council chamber that doubles as a performance space, a coffee shop, a small book store, community meeting rooms, a job center, tennis courts, and a huge garage for neighborhood parking. It’s really more of a community center with something for everyone.

Don’t get me wrong, the library is incredible all on its own; shelf space will go from 30,000 volumes to over 150,000. Public computers will go from 5 to 47. Specialized areas will include a teen center, a computer center, a room dedicated to West Hollywood heritage, and a very special children's reading room. Weho's library is technically run by Los Angeles County, and they will be moving almost all of their gay and lesbian related material to the new library, possibly making it the biggest LGBT library in the world.

But the architecture is the real star of the show…..Take a look at this very detailed virtual tour.....

The firm Johnson Favaro designed a LEED silver certified back drop for all of the functions that I already mentioned. The exterior of the building is a clean white box which conceals playful organic motifs constructed out of precious materials, like carrera marble and environmentally conscious ones, like bamboo. The design incorporates public art by the likes of graffiti artist Banksy.

The building is also thoughtfully connected to the community. One level of garage extends under the adjacent park making it more flat and usable while also allowing the main floor of the library to open directly onto the park. A grand staircase entrance takes you up to the library, and is part of an axis relating to the PDC plaza across the street. And the scale and street frontage brings architecture up off the street for a more urban flavor. West Hollywood is raising the bar for libraries and community buildings across the country. 

Shop Stop (web edition); Skitsch

Check out this great website......skitsch.it....It’s a design collective based in Italy. They goods designed by Italian and European designers. Mostly focused on the home. All very original. They have stores around the world. In the US they are sold through Design Within Reach (or as I like to call it Design Just Out of Reach). But it looks like the DWR offering is limited. But you can purchase directly from their website as well. I posted pics of a couple of my favorites from the site. The chair is stackable, and is made from plywood and tube steel, and sells for €260. The lamp is an LED articulating desk lamp and sells for €195. OK, so it's not a steal, but I get the sense that they are selling quality goods.

Tape Deck

I wish I had blogged about this earlier because this is an album that I downloaded on the day it was released and by bringing it up now I sound like I'm getting on a band wagon that's already left the station because Adele is everywhere...... But.....I am loving her new album, 21. It's all about breaking up and being broken hearted. There's nothing more cathartic than wallowing in misery. Love Song (cover of The Cure's song) is probably the most melancholy song on the album; it's also deep and heartfelt and nostalgic. If nothing else you should all download Rollin In The Deep, it's probably the coolest song that's come out in the last year.