For my spatial design course, we had to start research on an assigned building for a month\'s long project of recreating the space and understanding the underlying concepts of the architectural work. This was a 3-page spread of the initial research my team and I gathered.

1. NEWTON
LIBRARY
SURREY, BC, CANADA
The library was built in 1992 and created by the local design firm, Patkau
Architects. Surrounded by alder, cedar, and fir trees, it was designed to “stand
out as a civic monument” (Kalman, 1991) from the “dull sameness of the instant
Surrey townscape” (Conn, 2000). A laminated timber frame on a concrete base
mainly characterizes the exterior. Meanwhile, the interior is made out of white-
painted gypsum board, which complements the acrylic stucco on the outside.

2. Patkau Architects was founded by husband and wife duo, Furthermore, the height of the walls creates
John and Patricia Patkau, in 1978. The essence of their a prominent street-presence for the building,
ideology is regarding architecture as an intertwinement strengthening the landmark characteristic. A
PATKAU
of art and technology, a social service, an environmental valley is created by the lower part of the roof
agent, and a political statement. Building concepts are that “makes the lobby more cozy and inviting”
derived from the particularities of a site, taking into (De Rosa, n.d.) on the inside. The design on
consideration factors such as topography, climate, and the outside, however, is more mechanical as
ARCHITECTS
architectural context. By integrating these aspects into it operates as a gutter system where it drains
a design with attentiveness to materials, proportion, and rainwater from the roof towards a rock cistern,
functionality, a close communication between natural allowing it to be filtered underground. The valley
surroundings and social communal life is established. of the roof also works in conjunction with the
air-conditioning ducts located within the
L D C
IBRARY ESIGN ONCEPT The Newton Library reflects these ideals by redefining
the Surrey suburbia, while simultaneously blending into
aluminium penthouse.
the environment, "almost like a living organism" (De
Rosa, n.d.). The inverted roof is one of the main highlights
of the design. Due to this, the north and south-facing
walls are elevated to a two-storey height with windows
that allow natural light to permeate through the entire
one-storey interior.

3. What the library managers envisioned for the Newton Public Library
was a place in a fast-growing city where people could feel welcome
and comfortable (Blore, 2000). Moreover, they wanted to not only
encourage people to drop in and read, but also provide a facility
where others can exchange and share information (De Rosa, n.d.).
What the library managers envisioned for the Newton Public Library
was a place in a fast-growing city where people could feel welcome
Employing their ideologies to find an appropriate design solution,
and comfortable (Blore, 2000). Moreover, they wanted to not only
the Patkau Architects fulfilled the client’s desired attributes, while
encourage people to drop in and read, but also provide a facility
also incorporating various particularities of Surrey’s landscape –
where others can exchange and share information (De Rosa, n.d.).
such as the abundance of rain and the geographic elevation – into
a tangible manifestation. The library’s ecology within the community
Employing their ideologies to find an appropriate design solution,
as a landmark and its interaction with the residents and visitors are
the Patkau Architects fulfilled the client’s desired attributes, while
significant aspects of the library design. With the idea of utilizing
also incorporating various particularities of Surrey’s landscape –
natural light and rainwater as a source of technology based on
such as the abundance of rain and the geographic elevation – into
the unique structure of the building, the Newton Public Library
a tangible manifestation. The library’s ecology within the community
introduced a new way to increase the incentives to read and
as a landmark and its interaction with the residents and visitors
collaborate in a public space.
are significant aspects of the library design. With the idea
of utilizing natural light and rainwater as a source of
technology based on the unique structure of the
building, the Newton Public Library introduced
a new way to increase the incentives to
read and collaborate in a public space.