OFF ON A TANGENT
SOMERVILLE, USA
GPS: 42°23'04.0"N 71°06'28.0"W
Typology: Library
Year: 2025
Type: Academic
Supervisor: Iman Fayyad
Typology: Library
Year: 2025
Type: Academic
Supervisor: Iman Fayyad
Off on a Tangent investigates circulation as a spatial generator, beginning with the geometry of intersecting cylinders inspired by the toilet paper roll. Cylinders of varying diameters intersect to form a coalition of circulation spaces which intersect through linear tangencies which splay outward. At each half-level, this tangency expands toward the façade, pierces it, and terminates at the site boundary, establishing a rhythmic sequence of movement.
Circulation is conceived as a journey: each landing is a discrete space accessible only through its specific tangency. This sequence forces a complete ascent and descent to reach the final room, which remains visible but inaccessible once inside the library, creating tension between movement and perception.
In the extensions, tangencies generate spin-off spaces defined by balconies, windows, and vertical stack spaces that act as interior microclimates. Entry into all spaces occurs via a left turn from circulation, reinforcing cohesion and bodily rhythm. Timber siding drawn from the local vernacular is articulated through a geodesic logic, emphasizing movement and revealing vertical circulation within the massing.