Frank Gehry designed the Lewis Science Library on the Princeton University campus in New Jersey. It was completed in 2008.
The front entrance displays a clash of materials and shapes. The sandy brick veneer recalls the traditional material that we would expect to see at a twentieth century college. It sits respectfully in rectangular forms—a low exterior wall or a tall block chimney. But around this we see sweeping shapes of metal roofs and glazed facades. These sweeping shapes meet at recognizable entrances.
The brick breaks up into a Post-Modern 103 ft tall tower where it presses against a soaring metal curve. The main lobby at the street entrance is a colorful overlaps of walls and skylights. Parts of the library wrinkle at the glass facade in an apparent reaction to the nearby tree line. It is an experiential journey that branches out into several places. One impressive space is the “treehouse” meeting space, where curved vaulted ceilings are punched through by long cylinders of lights.
(joevare– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
(LeeLilly– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
(LeeLilly– flickr/creative commons license)
(Joe Shlabotnik– flickr/creative commons license)
