Kate Holbrook

Another Palace for the People

Coined the “Palace for the People,” the American public library was established as a free, democratic haven for the public’s literary and educational needs. Adapting to the changing needs of its patrons, the public library’s services have extended beyond book access to provided services ranging from tool rentals to warming centers, postal services, and more. As both an essential landmark of the physical city through its exterior and provider of social infrastructure on its interior, public libraries seek sustainable avenues to continue their tradition of gathering, idea exchange, and provision. Expanding upon the identity of the public library as a democratic commons, this study proposes a physical expansion of the Boston Public Library into Copley Square. Referencing the autonomous architectural language of the library, this proposal extends the library’s social and educational services through the lens of food systems, allowing patrons to partake in the production, process, and product of urban agriculture. 

BOOK SHELF

LIBRARY: as storage

LIBRARY: as type

LIBRARY: as commons

LIBRARY: as container

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

LIBRARY EXTENSION: as life cycle

LIBRARY EXTENSION: as food cycle