34 DIGS.NET
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11.15.2019
L E G E N D S | A P P L E C A R N E G I E L I B R A R Y
W
ashington DC has no shortage of statues and memorials and
museums—the nation's capital is nothing if not in love with
its institutions. Among its most impressive physical tributes
is the original Carnegie Library, a historic Beaux-Arts beauty on Mount
Vernon Square that, thanks to a conversion by architecture firm Foster +
Partners, is now the gleaming flagship for Apple.
Long a center of life in the capital, the Carnegie Library opened in 1903
and flourished for decades before falling into a state of neglect that would
require a vast and thoughtful restoration to revitalize the grand-dame to
an earlier splendor that speaks to today. In keeping with the thinking of
its funder Andrew Carnegie—that the building be "a public and free space
for all," according to Apple—Foster + Partners collaborated with the tech
company's design team on the project. eirs was a "sustainable agenda"
that included natural ventilation, heaps of daylight and a dedication to
locally sourced materials. Given the credentials of both parties involved in
the undertaking, expectations were as big as ambition allows.
From Apple's standpoint, and specifically the head of its design team
Jony Ive, "the layers of history which create the rich tapestry of urban
life," he notes. is idea was essential in giving what Ive deemed a "new
phase of life" for the rebranded Apple Carnegie Library, one envisioned
"to share our ideas and excitement about the products we create, while
giving people a sense of community and encouraging and nurturing
creativity." e building makes good on this promise, hosting free
Apple programming featuring a variety of artists and creators; the new
DC History Center, accessed by the grandest of rebuilt staircases; and
a beautifully done retail store that supports Apple's trademark product
exploration and tech expertise.
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