ARC 308 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Gordon Bunshaft, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library And Museum
Patricia Ramirez-Santos
PR22974
Think Sheet #3
The LBJ Presidential Library is an interesting building in terms of human factors. Since it
is a museum and a library, it’s architecture has to serve specific, multiple purposes. This, along
with the fact that this building had to be long lasting, made the architect, Gordon Bunshaft, focus
on a design that would allow for the changes over time in both visiting public and exhibits. The
floor plans of the building shed some light on the thought and intent put into the interior
designation and use of space.
From the outside, the building clearly communicates one message: importance. The solid
form and cubic shape can remind some of a vault of sorts, or a safe, communicating to the public
that something valuable is held inside. As a building holding important records of one of our
presidents, as well as various other pieces of our countries history, it is important to send that
message at first glance, saying that this is an important building, to be appreciated by many.
As you walk in the building, you can instantly see the results of the thorough planning
process that Bunshaft went through in order to continue influencing the experience of future
visitors. On the third floor, which is the main entrance floor, we can see the lobby has the center
focus of the elevators. The start of the exhibits is on the right entrance, which is an interesting
choice, considering that the majority of the population is right handed. The visitor would be
naturally inclined to head in that direction. The exhibits continue on around the perimeter of the
floor, with the main stairwell right in the middle of the pathway that opens up to the main hall.
The ‘pathway’ comes full circle with the gift shop, which opens up to the lobby. As mentioned in
the chapter “The Order of Rooms” in the textbook, the use of partial partitions between the
rooms provides a semi-open floor plan that allows the visitor to flow through the exhibits
without interrupting the experience of the visitor.
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Document Summary
The lbj presidential library is an interesting building in terms of human factors. Since it is a museum and a library, it"s architecture has to serve specific, multiple purposes. This, along with the fact that this building had to be long lasting, made the architect, gordon bunshaft, focus on a design that would allow for the changes over time in both visiting public and exhibits. The floor plans of the building shed some light on the thought and intent put into the interior designation and use of space. From the outside, the building clearly communicates one message: importance. The solid form and cubic shape can remind some of a vault of sorts, or a safe, communicating to the public that something valuable is held inside. As you walk in the building, you can instantly see the results of the thorough planning process that bunshaft went through in order to continue influencing the experience of future visitors.
