The Robert and Yadelle Sklare Family Library Kinneret College
Invited Competition - First Place (2005)
National Design Award (2011)
Project Architect @ Schwartz-Besnosoff Architects LTD
Related Links : Haaretz article 01/24/13 • DeZeen magazine 10/28/10 • Archdaily 10/29/10 • Kinneret College Website
Blending in the Site The Lake Kinneret, next to which the site was allocated, has a great ecological, historical and cultural meaning, being the main fresh water reservoir in the region and a centuries-long magnet for social and spiritual activity. Its serene landscape had a great importance for the project and served as its main design guidelines, as we wished both to capture view and to leave in undisturbed. We resolved this challenge with two perpendicular prisms. The upper one faced the view with its short side, trying to minimize its blockage. It was elevated from the ground gliding towards the lake above the sight level. The lower was sunken below the ground and its roof served as a view terrace.
Promenade Architecture Originally the campus was arranged along a picturesque net of walkways responding to the site and its scenic setting. The new design has imitated this quality by organizing the building around the circulation system, which weaved between the exterior and the interior, organically connecting different levels and revealing the view in a dynamic, stenographic way. Its artificial topography provided a diverse variety of spaces enhancing the potential of social interactions.
"A Theatre of Social Action" In the era of digital media the Library is no longer merely a container of knowledge and a locus of solitude learning but more importantly - a social meeting place - a vibrant, inclusive and active civic node. Academic library serves as a center for campus activity, a platform for exchange of knowledge, a stage for public events and a place to rest. The public (secondary) functions of the library are located along its central spine, which runs along the main circulation rout.
Program Stacking The three-stories-high upper prism hosted most of the public functions. It was organized longwise in tree distinct slabs. This arrangement followed two goals - [1] to let the view and the daylight penetrating the building to its full depth; and [2] to efficiently compact the primary function of the library (book storage) along an opaque wall in order to free as much room as possible for public needs and open-ended activities. The central slab was left undivided to its full height serving the main circulation corridor. It became a core of the building and served as the main meeting place providing maximum visibility and accessibility.
The lower prism gained the biggest advantage from the view, being rotated to it with its longer side. It hosted the main reading hall as we assumed that this function would benefit the most from sight of the water, spreading tranquility and meditative atmosphere. Moreover, this space was effectively separated from the busier part of the library, allowing achieving reduced noise levels.