Ann Arbor's Traverwood library branch makes 'Marvelous Modern Libraries' list
The Traverwood branch of the Ann Arbor District Library.
Ann Arbor District Library photo
The Ann Arbor District Library’s Traverwood branch has landed a mention on WebUrbanist’s list of 14 marvelous modern libraries.
The website, which features news and information about urban design, culture, travel, architecture and alternative art, praises the “long, low and geometric” design of the library. It notes that the library’s tree truck columns echo its wooded surroundings.
The library is in prestigious company, listed along with the Yale Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the Parque Biblioteca Espana and the Halmstad Library, Sweden.
The library, which replaced an older branch in a strip mall, opened in 2008 and was designed to have minimal impact on the landscape. The building makes use of ash trees harvested from the site and offers dramatic natural lighting.
In 2009, the branch won the American Institute of Architects Michigan Building Design Award.
Comments
mr_annarbor
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 1:51 a.m.
So, where is this building? The article doesn't seem to be missing this cogent fact.
Ann English
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.
I thought I recognized the building in the photo right away; I've been going there quite often the past two weeks. Pittsfield and Mallett's Creek both have drive-ups so that you can return library materials without finding a parking place , but Traverwood got rid of their under-the-building dropoff spot near the elevator. Yes, there is sufficient parking, if you don't mind the long walking distance that is sometimes necessary; they do use one return slot for both books and audio-visuals.
Constance Colthorp Amrine
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
It's a stunningly beautiful building. I'm so proud of all of our libraries in terms of the architecture, green design, access and services. Yay, AADL.
bg
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:12 a.m.
Example of shoddy journalism: "tree truck columns" - I think you meant tree trunk columns, actually salvaged from the site. Try proofreading, please!!!
Lars
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:31 a.m.
What does a "news producer" do, and why wouldn't a professional journalist mention the architect in the main body of the article?
shepard145
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:24 a.m.
What a strange artificial. So we know it's the Ann Arbor District Library - did the librarians design it? Did the library board? Notice every artificial written by AA.com includes the writers name and their cheesy photo no matter how good, bad, awful or incomplete it is. So why is it so painful for AA.com to write about the acclaimed architects, credit ReForm in Northville, for their work designing this marvelous building? This is a symptom of a larger problem in Michigan - a lack of sophistication, understanding and respect for architecture. While cities like Chicago and LA celebrate the amazing talent it takes to bring space to life, Michigan writers are clearly less educated, blue collar and more comfortable with abandoned buildings then this amazing art form. ...or maybe it's that great architecture is out of place here...
Lars
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:34 a.m.
No, shepard145, it's just bad journalism.
Peacemaker
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 9:34 p.m.
And we still do not have a single drive-up drop box for the convenient return of books anywhere in the city. Nor any adequate explanation whatsoever from the Library Board.
shepard145
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:25 a.m.
People need more exercise in this fat city, not less. Get out of your car and return the book.
kremlach
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.
Traverwood is far less usable than the Pittsfield or Mallets libraries due to the way the interior is divided, the weird parking and entry, etc. Those other two are great buildings, this isn't.
shepard145
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:30 a.m.
know
shepard145
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.
Usable? Well a warehouse is very usable - do you think that's what makes great architecture? What most people here now about architecture, including this writer Cindy, wouldn't cover the top of a urinal cake.
AAFish
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:15 a.m.
My "home" branch is Mallet's Creek. Much as I truly like the building and the personnel that staff it, I think that parking there is indisputably problematic. If you go there at the wrong time (such as when some sort of "function" is being held), you are likely to not find a space. (Which is why I always check the aadl.org "calendar" before going there.) I have been to the Traverwood branch. Found nothing dysfunctional about any of it, and it DOES have ample parking.
say it plain
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 6:29 p.m.
totally disagree @kremlach...the pittsfield branch is echo-y, warehouse-y, terrible glaring-and-dim-spots-both lighting-wise, and annoying to navigate. Plus that 'thing' supposed to entertain kiddies and curious adults makes the most awful sounds, blech, I always want to leave the second I get there. The Mallets Creek branch is better than Pittsfield, good lighting, but also odd to navigate and somehow stays feeling noisy. The computing areas too always seem crowded and the study spots are not, imo, conducive to studying. It does fit in to its environment better and more prettily than Pittsfield though I think. Traverwood has aesthetically interesting angles, great use of materials, pleasant nooks and the 'divisions' in the interior seem natural and break up the space so that study nooks make sense, reading areas make sense, etc. The parking entry at Traverwood allows for a good number of covered spots and multiple entries into the building, keeping traffic flowing well and each entrance feeling less used/less crowded. I can see why it would garner kudos for building design, actually!
rusty shackelford
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
Agreed, it's an excellent building. It's too bad most new construction in town is hideous, but this is a great exception.
say it plain
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
"Subjective" yes yes, as art and design necessarily is, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to evaluate relatively 'standardly' and I don't doubt that the Traverwood library stands out as 'nice' in that regard! It's a great building, imo ;-) Congrats to those responsible for its good design on this latest citation!
Dog Guy
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
Buildings are for people; architecture is for pigeons.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
One mans "kudos" is another mans "blah" is another mans "hideous" in the subjective world of architectural appearance. Functionality is a little less subjective.