Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro

Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Exterior Photography, FacadeManhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Exterior Photography, FacadeManhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, Kitchen, ChairManhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, ShelvingManhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - More Images+ 16

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Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Eric Staudenmaier

Text description provided by the architects. HED worked as executive architect in collaboration with Johnson Favaro on this 21,000 SF, two-story library with panoramic ocean views. HED designed the double façade described below to recover heat gain and reduce maintenance costs. The program also included associated site improvements, access ramps, walkways, landscaping and underground utilities.

Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, Shelving
© Eric Staudenmaier

Cultivated for millennia, wool remains widely popular for its warmth, durability and moisture-repellant properties.  While we associate wool with warmth, it’s a little-known fact that it’s the spaces—the hollow pockets in the material—rather than the fibers themselves that capture and hold heat. 

Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, Stairs, Shelving
© Eric Staudenmaier
Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Image 20 of 21
Axonometric
Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, Chair
© Eric Staudenmaier

In a groundbreaking, integrated design-build process for Manhattan Beach Library, HED’s team of architects, building scientists and mechanical engineers leveraged this idea to create a global first—a horizontal active double skin façade (ADSF). 

Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, Stairs, Shelving, Chair
© Eric Staudenmaier

Originally planned by the design architect as a single-glazed rain screen, our team proposed changing the exterior to an ADSF to dramatically reduce energy costs and maintenance and preserve the library’s transparency. Consisting of three functional layers—an outer glazing, an inner glazing, and a continuous two-foot air gap between the two walls—this pioneering design drastically reduces the library’s energy load by effectively surrounding the structure with a thermal blanket.

Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Interior Photography, Shelving, Table
© Eric Staudenmaier

Aesthetically stunning as well as functional, the ADSF was a key contributor to this award-winning library’s openness, transparency and aesthetic delight—and to its LEED Gold certification. The completed design reconciles highly technical engineering requirements with aspirations for a beautiful, open civic presence.

Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro - Exterior Photography, Facade, Glass
© Eric Staudenmaier

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Address:Los Angeles, California, United States

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About this office
Cite: "Manhattan Beach Public Library / HED + Johnson Favaro" 16 Jun 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/941105/manhattan-beach-public-library-hed> ISSN 0719-8884

© Eric Staudenmaier

曼哈顿海滩公共图书馆,全球首创主动式双层外表皮 / HED

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