P&P Exercise 16: Exploring Function

With this exercise we are to consider and then document interior space with an emphasis on function.
I have chosen my college library, which is intended for use by the college faculty and students.  This space is not available for use by the public except perhaps on special occasions, such as festivals or other functions, or perhaps by special invitation.  As the building was erected in the early 90’s, I have no record of the designer’s intentions,  and so can only speculate on what was planned.  One thing seems certain.  The lack of closed space suggests it was not intended for archival purposes.  As this is not a research institution but vocational, and as many resources are now available electronically, the library currently serves to support students through the provision of learning space and resources – private study halls, conference rooms, computers, audio-visual equipment, IT support services, a café.  The building is circular in design and absent trees or some kind of multi-floor structure in the central atrium a lot of potential space on the first and second floors seems to have been wasted.  The open space and dome-shaped ceiling serve to amplify sound and make the ground floor quite noisy when there are more than a few students present.

Given the limitations of my equipment my range was restricted.  I tried shooting vertical to capture height, but was limited by what could be depicted within the frame.   I also had to shoot through glass and therefore suffer with reflections.  I have chosen instead to represent the library with an image that shows off a number of contrasts.  The cushions to the left represent traditional seating in Arabia.  Midground are plush chairs a bit further off the ground, but still somewhat reclined, and in the background straight-backed chairs around tables.  The floors there are tiled, the foreground carpeted.  The workspaces are blue and enclosed, the space for relaxing yellow and open.  The image was made from about the height of someone sitting on the cushions in the foreground, effectively making the midline the space where floor and walls meet.  This angle also shows of the building’s round shape.

A couple of problems with this shot:  the immediate foreground is out of focus, and the floor socket panel under the carpet could have been closed.  If I were shooting for professional use, I would move the plush green chairs over to the right and from behind the column.

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