Book Mountain

Public Library Reimagined

NY Architectural Design Awards Silver Winner

In the digital age, libraries face a growing challenge. As digital media becomes more accessible, fewer people engage with physical books. We're at risk of losing the tactile, emotional connection that only printed materials can provide: an experience that screens simply can't replicate.

How do we bring people back into libraries? What can libraries become in this new era? This project explores the transformation of a traditional library into a vibrant social complex. An inclusive, multifunctional space that supports reading, learning, gathering, and making. It blends cultural, educational, and recreational functions to create a more engaging public experience.

The concept of the Book Mountain is articulated through the use of monumental volume and a rotated building block, generating a deliberate juxtaposition that heightens spatial contrast and draws attention to its significance.

Lower Level: Inclusivity through Integration and Connection

Through thoughtful spatial interventions and community-driven programming, the library transforms into a vibrant hub for people of all ages and the community it serves. It is a space of discovery, creativity, and connection that reaffirms the value of the physical book. At the same time, it offers refuge and support to those in need, including the unhoused, reinforcing the library’s role as a place of care, dignity, and inclusion.

The Book Mountain asserts its significance and hierarchy by being elevated 3.5 feet above the ground plane. This raised platform requires visitors to ascend via a staircase or ramp, creating a subtle sense of ceremony in the approach and reinforcing the importance of the collections it holds. A bridge further strengthens the spatial connection to the second floor. Beyond improving circulation, it offers seating areas where visitors can pause, observe the main collection area from above, and experience the space from new perspectives—ultimately unifying the different levels and enhancing the overall spatial narrative.

Different experience with books:

Read, Explore, Make and Appreciate

The Book Mountain serves as the focal point of the space and is at the core of the design concept. This elevated structure offers multiple ways to engage with books: displayed on open shelves for general access, positioned behind glass panels for visual appreciation, and presented on pedestals as curated exhibits. 

Integrated seating throughout the structure encourages various modes of interaction with the collections. These seating options are intentionally informal, fostering a sense of approachability and comfort rather than distance.