Cassandra Rizzi
As someone who has always been passionate about art and design, I feel that my creativity and curiosity has flourished within the Bachelor of Interior Design Program. My experience in residential design and knowledge obtained through the program has helped to shape my professional interests. I gravitate towards designing community spaces, the healthcare sector, and residential design.
Project Overview
The Toronto Public Library is a key staple to its surrounding community. In this case, the building for the proposed redesign is Humber’s Justice Building; located at 3120 Lakeshore Blvd W in Etobicoke. It will provide a safe, comfortable environment that fulfills the wants and the needs of the users. The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has impacted the availability of the physical interior library space, and has shed light on problems regarding the current spatial designs, lack of traffic control, flexibility, and safety concerns. The purpose of my re-design is to focus on the user’s experience (comfortability, connection, health and safety) while creating a functional layout that can operate during a pandemic, and work efficiently post-pandemic.
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Design Process/Intent.
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Conceptual Approach.
Concept/Design Process
HEART OF A STORY; A library provides a variety of books with many stories for individuals to discover. There's a heart to each story with lessons to learn and an overall goal to achieve. The conceptual approach is that the physical space of the library will act as the perimeter of a book, while each individual develops their journey throughout it. Their experience creates a personal story centered around a heart of their own. Taken in its literary context, the space will incorporate sculptural forms with curves and openings that resemble the tissue makeup of a heart. These forms will create an immersive experience through spatial design, while providing a functional and multi-purpose space.
Floor Plan
This experience is self-guided, and the traffic is naturally controlled through careful consideration and placement of curved partition walls and bookshelves. For wayfinding, social distancing, and directional purposes, the central structure of the library as well as the bookshelves and coloured flooring help to distinguish zones, control the flow of circulation, and remove clutter in specific areas. This design was inspired by evidence based research and experimental investigations to help create a library space that could remain open and functional during a pandemic (i.e., Covid-19) and post-pandemic.
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Floor Plan.
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Isometric View.
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Reception / Entry: Daytime Perspective.
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Computer Zone (Top Photos) and Working Space/Bookshelves (Bottom Photos).
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Community Steps: Early Morning Perspective.
3D Views
These 3D renders showcase focal areas within The Toronto Public Library floorplan that visitors and staff experience. Each zone was carefully designed with emphasis on comfort, connection, health and safety through Evidence Based Research, Biophilic Design and Human Centered Design.
