Building - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages Some books of Latin America are as old as 1751 and some manuscripts and newspaper of the 18th century. In the central tower, the library can hold up to 180,000 volumes of books and in the underground around 600,000 volumes making their collection about 1 million volumes and other manuscripts that may also total in millions (Parks).
The building consists of marble, granite, bronze and glasswork. Its structure was designed at 200’-0’’ and 350’-0’’ site plan. The building has total square footage of 88,347. The buildings roof serves as a landmark for visitors and people on the campus of Yale. It is a six-story tower, which is enclosed by glass top, containing book stacks encircled by windowless shell held by four piers at the curve of the building. The outer walls are made of Lucida marble panel, which protects direct sunlight from coming in, yet promoted subdued light entrance. The marble walls are thinly sliced that makes sunlight enter the library softly making the view beautiful and unique (“Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library”).
The dimensions have appropriate mathematical proportions, 1:2:3, which make the architectural design platonic. The building is commonly known as the “jewel box” because of its unique feature that there is a stark light emerging after sun is set. It is also known as the “laboratory of humanities.” The presence of Alexander Calder’s “Gallows and Lollipops” across the plaza serves as a delightful sight for the visitor (“Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library”).
Visitors enter into the building using a revolving glass door, and there are two stairways to the mezzanine level that displays Beinecke’s collection. There is a public exhibition house, which displays 48 extant copies of Gutenberg Bible. There are two basement doors, first which goes down to the “Court” level, at the heart in front of Beinecke “The Garden" that features sculptures of Isamu Noguchi (Pyramid Sun and Cube). ...Download file to see next pagesRead More