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Ingleside Branch Library

This is a project by Fougeron Architecture and it is located at San Francisco, CA, United States. There are fifteen images for Ingleside Branch Library.

: © Fougeron Architecture

Project images

Designer's statement

The design for this branch library won a national competition held by the San Francisco Public Library, and construction was completed in September 2009. Adhering to the urban grid, the L-shaped scheme allows the main reading room and community room volumes to flank and define a central courtyard. The exterior has two major architectural elements: an egg-shaped room and the high canopy roof.

A catalyst for the Ocean Avenue retail district, the buildings most striking element of the front façade, positioned prominently at the corner, is an egg-shaped children’s reading room with a large, bench-seat window that puts its user’s activities on display and encourages use of the library by younger patrons. The children’s room is capped by a high canopy roof, extending over the entry and the lower community room volume along Ocean Avenue. This roof strengthens the civic presence of the one-story structure, given the context of taller adjacent buildings. Its sky-blue underside is up-lit, providing unobtrusive security lighting to the entry and sidewalk below, while the height of the canopy is designed to optimize future photovoltaic panels and provide sun shading.

Inside, the spaces are designed to fuse historic interpretations of libraries as “temples of knowledge” with more common associations of books with the marketplace popularized by Borders and the like. The sloped ceiling of the space is capped with giant skylights coaxing sunlight deep into the room. Facing the courtyard, wood-clad carrels offer quiet, intimate spaces to read and relax.

Most importantly, this new branch library facilitates a central gathering space and enhances access to important resources for the neighborhood, while playing an essential role in the revitalization of Ocean Avenue. The robust, light-filled, and sustainable architectural design highlights the virtues and aspirations of this community: valuing the accessibility of knowledge and education to everyone.

Sustainable Features:

High Roof Canopy: Shields the south-facing program room volume. Its orientation is designed to house photovoltaic panels.
Courtyard: The building flanks the courtyard, shielding it from street noise and prevailing winds. Native drought resistant landscaping is used for community education as well as reduced irrigation needs.
Natural Daylight: All rooms have natural daylight including the main reading room with three south-facing light monitors. The interior ceiling is sloped for maximum admission of even sunlight. Overhangs at windows reduce heat gain in the summer and maximize light in the winter.
Efficient Artificial Lighting: The minimal artificial lighting required uses high efficiency, dimmable, T-5 fluorescent tubes. The lighting is directed upward to the light colored ceiling, which reflects the light back down for better color rendition.
Hydronic Baseboard Heater: Hidden within the bookshelf eliminates all ductwork. This system is powered by the highest efficiency boiler available.
Operable Glazing: Allow cross ventilation from the streets to the courtyard. In the main reading room, operable glazing is located low and automatic louvers are located in the skylight wells to facilitate stack ventilation. The naturally occurring pressure differential is utilized to expel excess heat without the need for air conditioning.
Low VOC & Sustainable Finishes: Air quality and responsible use of finish materials were primary considerations. The interior paint and other interior finishes are all low VOC. Wall and ceiling insulation is formaldehyde free denim, linoleum floor finishes, and sustainably harvested wood.