Architecture of Central Library and Information Center of Isfahan City in Iran: A Critical Evaluation

Mardomi, Karim; Soleimanpour, Ehsan

Architecture of Central Library and Information Center of Isfahan City in Iran: A Critical Evaluation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Karim Mardomi ¹

Ehsan Soleimanpour ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture & Municipal Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

² M. A. of Islamic Architecture, Imam Reza International University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discover the architectural properties of Central Library and Information Center of Isfahan municipality in terms of architectural criticism and analyzing capabilities and potentials to attract more audience and be a better library space.
Methodology: This research implemented with descriptive case study method and architectural critique, analyses the architectural qualities that make Isfahan Central Library and Information Center Building a sociable, welcome and attractive building. In order to select criterions, we performed 85 interviews with users and a researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect viewpoint data from them. The content and context of interviews has analyzed too and results formed upon it.
Findings: Results showed that the library building is in an appropriate situation in the city and the outer form, has a certain identity but is weak in making a transparent, legible, bright, flexible and happy space that supports social interactions and make a sociable library. Qualities of the building were far from sociability factors of a library building.
Originality/Value: Case study and critical view on main library buildings of a country and comparing them to parameters of successful libraries of the world can help to have a deeper vision about them and provides the context for the development and design of new libraries based on effective sociability factors.

Keywords

Architecture critique

Library

Isfahan Central Library

Sociability