I had seen images of the Old RISD Library from my friends' Facebook profiles back in Freshman year, and I always wondered where this space was. It was not until last semester that I entered the Library and had a class there. I immediately felt comfortable in the room. The overall warmth from the lights and the wooden floors eliminated the uncomfortable feelings I get when I am in a "normal" classroom with halogen lamps and cold tiled floors. The atmosphere makes lectures and discussions bearable; the high ceilings allow voices to resonate and carry through the air. The empty bookshelves also make the space feel somewhat haunted. Although the space is used as a classroom and it no longer functions as a library, it still feels like a quiet and private sanctuary built for self-reflection and studying. I find it soothing when I can hear echoes of people walking, people whispering, books closing, etc., in libraries and have no knowledge of the sources of the sounds.
Kristen Harada
No comments:
Post a Comment