More than a repository of take-home resources, the Detroit Public Library has long served as the city's informal living room. This project, designed to invigorate an institution navigating the technological advances reshaping libraries globally, uses the archives and collections as the foundation for a series of experimental interventions. Employing new media and contemporary arts practices, the proposal offers interactive, technologically-calibrated encounters, revealing the often overlooked resources within the library's holdings.
The “Lyric Lounge” transforms the music collection through the installation of a series of inhabitable disco balls that introduce audiophiles to the richness of the record archive. The photography collection is activated through an immersive projection pavilion. And the Arts Collection is transformed into the People’s Lounge,a place for Detroiters to engage with each other’s stories in a comfortable and stylish living archive. Finally, the Children’s Wing is invigorated with an interior playscape that combines spaces for reading with romping, and extends family activities to the outdoors. These interventions activate the Library’s existing spaces and provide a cornerstone for the cultural life and civic infrastructure of the city.
Outside, the Woodward Avenue terrace is restored and extended to host public programs, reading kiosks, and temporary food stalls. The Cass Avenue entrance is enhanced with terraced landscaping, creating inviting grounds that connect to the Wayne State University campus and encourage visitors to linger.
2022
Midtown Detroit
Scale:
145,000 SF
Client:
The Detroit Cultural Center Association (DCCA)
Stakeholders:
Detroit Public Library
Principals:
Anya Sirota, Jean Louis Farges