Library by Design: Inspire To Climb Higher
A clever design for children's spaces is top of the trees Sep 15, 2010"Trees and tree houses reflect
exploration and risk-taking...
going higher and challenging
yourself to do things that may
be uncomfortable or seemingly beyond your ability."
—Barbara Mitchell Hutton, Director, Rocky Mountain School for the Gifted and Creative
When Humphries Poli Architects (HPA) suggested to the Rangeview Library District, CO, a.k.a. Anythink™ libraries, that its four new branches feature tree houses in the children's areas, it took almost a full two seconds for the administrative staff to embrace the design team's idea. Since then, there has been no looking back—the tree houses have become symbols to spark the imagination and inspire a sense of wonder for both young and older library users.
Above it all
The design concept was initially inspired by a Denver Post article by Sheba Wheeler that describes the appeal of tree houses: "When the stress and strain of everyday life become overwhelming, it can be hard to find a place to get above it all. So people are increasingly turning to an iconic childhood getaway—the tree house—for a new kind of grown-up escapism."
Rangeview director Pam Sandlian Smith noted in her monthly report to the board that the tree houses were a perfect symbol for the rebranded Anythink libraries; they would give patrons a sense of nature and bring the peacefulness of the outdoors indoors. She emphasized that having patrons perceive the library as a place for retreat and renewal was central to their vision. The entire staff drew on this picture when they began developing concepts for the new facilities.
Idea to reality
The design team crafted different types of tree houses for each of the four Anythink branches. The rural 6000 square foot Bennett Branch was intended as a kit for the outdoor children's garden. The architects created an "assembly manual" illustrating a step-by-step construction to be built by volunteers; it is expected to be completed later this fall.
The 25,000 square foot Huron Street Branch (pictured here) features soaring vertical slabs covered in bark siding from poplar trees, allowing children to explore among the trees, or climb through the "holes." One of the trees simulates a nocturnal experience, combining the sound of insects and frogs with images of the constellations projected in the tree canopy. The 20,000 square foot Brighton Branch will feature a literal connection from the interior to the exterior program space, while the 45,000 square foot Wright Farms Branch offers the excitement of crawling through a fallen tree.
Of course, the design and construction team had to face issues of keeping costs down and ensuring an accessible and safe experience—so no elevated platforms. Instead, children, and adults who read to them, can sit under the green canopy. But, most important, the tree houses stimulate the mind in order to reinforce the notion of climbing higher.
Even though the new facilities incorporate tree houses in the children's areas, the view of libraries as places full of possibilities, exploration, and creativity holds true for all ages.
| Author Information |
| Dennis Humphries, AIA, is Principal at Humphries Poli Architects, P.C. (www.hparch.com), Denver |
