Constructed from the warm and transparent materials of wood and glass, the Cedar Library provides a highly public domain with flexible spaces for all users. It proposes the use of mass timber as a beautiful and sustainable building material in the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario; serving to educate the public about sustainable building while prioritizing the needs of future generations.
Nestled between a bustling intersection and a quiet residential neighbouhood, the transparent public face of the library invites onlookers inside, where more private coves can be found deeper within the building. From the street, its interior programs are visible to passerbys, forming an open dialogue with the exterior. A glass reading room juts out of the library’s back facade, which opens out into a green space. Within, spaces and furniture are flexible and non-prescriptive. Users can pour into the excavated theatre/lounge seating area to enjoy a performance, or to recline and read a book. Moveable furniture encourages social interaction and adaptive uses of the library’s varied spaces. Users have the freedom to use the library in whichever way they deem fit.
