SUMMER SEMESTER 2023

In the introductory project “Knowledge Lab—Library of the Future,” we will explore the themes of inspiration, interaction, knowledge transfer, and learning. Information has long since ceased to be archived solely in physical form, such as books. The possibilities of digitization have given rise to new storage media. The goal is to design a space that unites the analog and digital worlds and is accessible to everyone. We will examine and question the role and evolution of the public library in our society in order to develop a unique and forward-looking space and program.

Instructors: Prof. Mag. Arch. Marie-Therese Harnoncourt-Fuchs, M.Sc. Harun Faizi
Tutors: B.Sc. Sunijia Wang, Lara Kienold, Elina Klett

What will the public library of the future look like? Do we still need public libraries when we can access the world’s collected information directly via the Internet? Is the public library’s purpose truly limited to serving as a repository of knowledge and a place of learning, or is it not rather also about the opportunity to learn together and from one another, to discover, discuss, and experiment? The term “open source” refers to digital technologies, programming code, and information databases whose content can be used by users, but also independently shaped and expanded. In a similar way, the public library of the future could adopt an “open source” concept and apply it to the built environment. We argue that the public library is the most suitable place to collectively bring to life a discursive culture of knowledge and learning in the future—a public cultural space of knowledge that is accessible to everyone and contributes significantly to our democratic culture.

The task is to design a library of the future—bridging analog and digital worlds—for a specific location. We will begin by examining and questioning the role of the public library in our society—from its history to the day after tomorrow—in all the facets described above, in order to develop our own, future-oriented spatial concept and program. In addition, we will scrutinize the “objectivity” of content from various types of virtual media. To what extent can we trust this information?

The studio is divided into four phases; furthermore, new digital tools, techniques, and aesthetics will be tested and explored throughout the semester.
In doing so, we will use various technologies and forms of representation (drawings, diagrams, digital/physical models, animations, etc.) that will be developed in parallel with the project narrative.

Instructors: Prof. Mag. Arch. Marie-Therese Harnoncourt-Fuchs, M. Arch. Sarah Blahut, Mag. Arch. Jona Wolf