Linné library: a place for the physical book in a digital world

Abstract

In our ever changing and fast-moving society, stress is an increasing problem. One can ask the question why stress is an increasing problem and why are we living in a pace that is so fast that a lot of us cannot keep up. When we have everything that we need materialistically why can’t we aim at having all that we need spiritually and in our way of living. If you can’t relax and read a book and absorb that in a natural way, you might be too stressed. If you can’t relax when you read, paint, talk with your friends, walk in the forest, or perform any hobby for that matter you might be too stressed. We create our society for us humans yet somehow, we live in a pace that’s not suited for humans. This thesis is an investigation, a discussion about reading and the role of the physical book in a digital world, but also and maybe more about how to live and how to live in a pace that’s suitable for us. The result is a proposal for a new library in Linnéstaden in Gothenburg. A library that’s a barrier from the high pace city living. When you enter this library, you should feel relaxed and be align with your pace of living. Forgetting about schedules and time so you can open your mind and absorb knowledge from all the great authors that’s been living before us. It’s a sustainable building in the manner that it’s a robust building. It has the intent of standing here for a long time so it will use common and proven building materials to their full extent such as brick, wood, and concrete. The human brain will probably not change fundamentally over some decades, neither should this library.