The Harvard Medical School's Countway Library - at the intersection of medicine and interior space

Hello everyone!

I hope all is well with you.

Today, I would like to share my visit to "the Harvard Medical School's Countway Library of Medicine" with you!

Designed by noted Cambridge architect Hugh Stubbins and opened in 1964, this library (with its focus on "medicine and health") may give you a perspective on an aesthetic and functional synthesis of interior space of a library/research and reading activities, display of some scientific/research artifacts, daylight, a central inner court, vertical and horizontal inner circulation, etc. As you are going to notice during this mini tour, spatial organization and arrangement of this medicine library had been designed to welcome its (scientific) researchers, readers and all visitors.

For more on this medicine library:

"...Innovations are also apparent on the interior, where four vertical core towers containing the mechanical systems define the open seven-story central court. Constructed around a grand staircase, the library's perimeter is defined by open stacks and reading alcoves on the periphery, with carrels projecting out over the central space. Reader traffic is carefully regulated, with books and periodicals in separate areas; the fifth floor harbors rare books and manuscripts, an auditorium, and conference rooms.

The court lends a dramatic aspect to the vista, providing a welcome prospect for visitors and users. In terms of the open space, the placement of stacks and readers' carrels, and the emphasis on daylight (controlled by sliding louvers), one may consider the Countway as an antecedent to Louis Kahn's high-profile Exeter Library, 1967–1972, at Phillips Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire....", https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MA-01..., last accessed on 9.5.2022.

In addition, please:

For info. on "the Harvard Medical School Longwood Campus - Countway Library": https://harvardplanning.emuseum.com/sites/..., last accessed on 9.5.2022.

For "the Harvard Medical School Longwood Campus - Countway Library Spaces": https://countway.harvard.edu/services/coun..., last accessed on 9.5.2022.

For "Harvard Medical School Longwood Campus Maps", please see:
https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/contact-..., last accessed on 9.5.2022.

For "Harvard Medical School Longwood Campus Interactive Tour":
https://campustour.hms.harvard.edu/#UMAP_2..., last accessed on 9.5.2022.

For "the History of HMS":
https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/history-hms, last accessed on 9.5.2022.

For "Timeline of Discovery":
https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/history-..., last accessed on 9.5.2022.

In addition, you can see:

• For my scholarly accomplishments and background in architecture:
http://meralekincioglu.com/biography1.html
• For my publications in architecture:
http://meralekincioglu.com/1-publication.html
• For my academic presentations, talks, panels, and lectures in architecture:
http://meralekincioglu.com/academic-presen...
• For my professional architectural (design) practice experience:
http://meralekincioglu.com/my-architecture...
• For my profile on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/mera...
• For my blog on architecture: https://meralekincioglu.blogspot.com/

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