MariaEugeniaGamarra



The Salt Lake Public Library it’s a great example of the perfect combination of horizontal and vertical circulation systems. When we think, as architects and designers, in the creation of a building one of the first things that we have to take into account is how this construction is going to be traveled and discovered.



In this specific case we can see that the combination of different types of vertical circulation cores, like stairs and elevators, combined with the creation of big and open halls, can make that people that visits this building get totally attracted by the idea of make a full visit to the entire library. If we take a close view to the vertical circulation system we can see that the principal stairs are associated to a full high space of the building, the main hall of the library can be totally seen from the stairs. The elevators are situated just next to the stairs, these elevators are transparent, and so while you are travelling inside them you can view the inside of the building.



Both the stairs and the elevators are connected to big halls that are located on the edge of all floors of the building. This element of design can produce a circulation located on the edges of the main space of the library, creating a sensation of horizontal lines across the building.

When an architect create buildings each aspect of the design has to be supported by and explanation and cause. The use of vertical elements on the internal facades of the building can create to the public the signaling of the cores of circulation. These elements can also be repeated outside of the building, allowing the public distinguish where is the entrance and the exit.

Despite of the fact that there are principal cores of circulation in this building, we can also locate some others stairs located in strategic points. This stairs works like supportive systems of circulation to the entire building; they can have a private use, or can be emergency ways of escape.

The approach of the building is very important too. It’s like the presentation card of the construction. In the case of the library, the building it’s located on the top of a big tray, that is a square that serves to the building. The circulation in this entrance space is totally horizontal because there’s no presence of a gap produce by the topography of the site.



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