Symbolic throughout children’s literature, trees serve as the iconic elements in this children’s library. The metal Dragon Trees of the Fountaindale Public Library stand strong and proud, creating a forest of adventure and discovery, where every visit is a story in which to take part.
At the onset of the project, during participatory design, the children’s librarians referenced a delightful storybook by Jane Langton in which children save a tree from adults who want to cut it down. This was the design impetus for bringing these delicate Dragon Trees to life, with slender metal-framed trunks reaching out and inviting children to a landscape where art and story come alive. Rather than overpowering and dwarfing, each tree is individual, planting distinct opportunities for interaction and play under outstretched canopies. Quotations and snippets from great stories appear on the underside of the canopies, with typography designed by artist Matthew Hoffman.
Children may notice that the Dragon Tree frames resemble the bases of the classic modernist chairs, a deliberate design connection. The Storytelling Room supports programming, while parent-friendly children’s collections are easy to access. The Dragon Trees are sited to create vistas within the children’s library, while taking advantage of the views out-of-doors. Their palettes are warm, charming, and sophisticated. The Children’s Library and its Dragon Trees sets a literature-rich landscape for a variety of spaces to learn, play, study, and read.
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