The city as educator : design projections for a public library in Bangkok

Abstract

This thesis is an exploration of an architecture of relevance in the context of Bangkok, Thailand.The main concern behind this work is the disparity in values between ancient and modern models of society, and the need to forge a new paradigm that recognizes the necessity for change without losing the continuation of vital themes. The public library as an institution epitomizes this concern. It introduces concepts alien to the Thai model of the library, yet it is essential for the free access to information that a modernizing society needs. By attempting to understand the underlying structure of the city fabric, potential interpretations as yet unexploited can be accommodated, thus allowing for societal change within understandable and meaningful patterns. Six patterns are explored, and these are innovated on in the design section. The library thus challenges the conventional institution in terms of its programme of communication, its degree of insulation from the outside world, and the ease of access to its collections.