Wood surfaces throughout the ground floor create a warm environment. The composition of desks and counters reflects the casual style of life at the beach and is intended to capture the character of ephemeral beach structures-- guard stations, surf shacks, skate ramps and bonfires. Bold, colorful graphics reflect the character of surf shops, bike shops, food joints --places that make life at the beach so quintessentially southern Californian. The palette changes at the second floor where colors and textures dial down to reflect the muted colors and textures of the natural environment of the coast.

The architecture's transparency situates the building in the micro-climate of the coast where the ocean and moisture in the air causes changing qualities of light throughout the day. From the outside, the glass offers varying qualities of transparency, reflection, and opacity, alternately reflecting the sky and revealing the interior in constantly changing combinations. From the inside, maximum transparency at the second floor provides uninterrupted views, creating a direct and unmediated experience of the surrounding neighborhood, natural environment, and climatic conditions of the coast.

The ground floor transparency facilitates visible and functional relationship between the life of the street and the library within; the activity of the library brings life to the street, and vice versa. Credits: - Harley Ellis Devereaux - Additional Architect - Linda Demmers - Library Consultant