A Book Exchange
location - Hansen Hall, State Library Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
type - Alchemy Program EOI
year - 2021
status - completed, unawarded
people - Amy Evans
The proposal is to provide one of the largest physical book exchange programs in Australia at State Library Victoria. The book exchange is proposed for Hansen Hall and would contain second-hand books donated by local organisations, functioning as a take-one leave-one service, whilst promoting the up-cycling of second-hand books.
The book exchange would fundamentally strive to promote reading to disadvantaged, ESL and low literacy individuals within the community, while also providing a valuable book exchange service to all. Upon entry users would be immersed in a highly playful and adaptable space, sparking curiosity and encouraging individuals to pick up a book and read it. The space would allow for small and large gatherings, individual and group seating and ‘safe reading’ areas. The book exchange would act as a catalyst to raise awareness of the importance of literacy while striving to increase literacy levels through a series of scheduled programs.
Amy is a Berlin based architect and artist currently researching the relationship between the social and urban fabric of cities. As well as research and design work, she regularly teaches design studios at both the University of Melbourne and RMIT. The following is a selection of projects spanning across, architecture, exhibition design, curation, art, teaching, research and publication.
Amy is recipient of the Marten Bequest 2020 for her ongoing project titled ‘The City Shaped’.
