Library Design Practices Highlighted in Library Journal
ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN LIBRARY JOURNAL’S DESIGN SPECIAL ON NOVEMBER 8, 2021.
BY DENNIS PIERCE
Winthrop Library / Photo by Benj Drummond
Ray Johnston’s experience with library design began in the mid-1980s, when he helped his then-employer bring Seattle’s seven Carnegie libraries up to code. He founded Johnston Architects in 1991, which does a variety of residential and municipal work, primarily in the Northwest. But Johnston finds himself particularly drawn to libraries.
“Libraries serve as the living room of the community,” he says. “I think of libraries and houses in the same way: people are passionate about them.”
The Friends of Winthrop Library in Winthrop, WA, commissioned Johnston Architects to design a new library to replace a tiny, 2,000-square-foot structure that no longer met this rural community’s needs. The new facility, opening in early 2022, exemplifies a modern, multiuse library that fits in well with its surroundings.
Inspired by the agrarian buildings in the region, the new library is modeled after a hay barn, with broad overhangs, open roof trusses, and slats that serve as sunscreens to filter the natural light. The interior comprises large, uninterrupted spaces that are easy to modify for various functions, with mobile stacks that slide out of the way to accommodate large gatherings.
Designed to hold a 20,000-item collection, the 7,300-square-foot facility also includes study tables, computers, lounge seating, and casual counter seating for study or work. Along the perimeter are 12 inviting window seats that serve as reading nooks.
The new library will offer enhanced programming around the use of tools. Users can learn various tools’ uses for crafting and creating and will even be able to borrow many. “It’s a library of things and not just books,” Johnston says.
“I think of libraries and houses in the same way: people are passionate about them.”
— Ray Johnston, FAIA
Winthrop Library Children’s Area / Photo by Benj Drummond
“Libraries serve as the living room of the community.”
— Ray Johnston, FAIA
Winthrop Library Children’s Area / Photo by Benj Drummond