> Of course, all of the above is just the "icing on the cake" (or "lipstick on the pig") [...] The real purpose of any library is to retain and provide access to the assets within.
I think the quote above underscores how little this critic understands about architecture. Public libraries have a long history as spaces for public gatherings and performance, arguably a more important role than their use as a storage facility. Today, public libraries in the United States are some of the few remaining public spaces we have, with classes for adults and children, spaces for community groups to meet, and free access to computers and the internet. For many people, this is the only place where they can go to apply for certain public services. Public libraries are one of the few places we allow homeless people to without citing them for loitering. A core premise in the design of the Seattle Public Library was that a new library should put greater emphasis on open social spaces than space for the "stacks". A good critique would judge how well it followed through on that premise.
An analogous critique of software would be to look at an enormous, highly-regulated, committee-designed, waterfall-style software project and highlight random technical shortcomings and potential security flaws patched after the initial release. And then never discuss how well the software addresses the core use case.
A better critique would ask: Does the building do a good job of answering the needs of its users?
I think the quote above underscores how little this critic understands about architecture. Public libraries have a long history as spaces for public gatherings and performance, arguably a more important role than their use as a storage facility. Today, public libraries in the United States are some of the few remaining public spaces we have, with classes for adults and children, spaces for community groups to meet, and free access to computers and the internet. For many people, this is the only place where they can go to apply for certain public services. Public libraries are one of the few places we allow homeless people to without citing them for loitering. A core premise in the design of the Seattle Public Library was that a new library should put greater emphasis on open social spaces than space for the "stacks". A good critique would judge how well it followed through on that premise.
An analogous critique of software would be to look at an enormous, highly-regulated, committee-designed, waterfall-style software project and highlight random technical shortcomings and potential security flaws patched after the initial release. And then never discuss how well the software addresses the core use case.
A better critique would ask: Does the building do a good job of answering the needs of its users?