In 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the city of New York, and its devastating effects were felt particularly in the Far Rockaway neighborhood, in Queens. In the aftermath of the storm, the existing 1968 library building provided disaster relief to residents. It was a lifeline, becoming a meeting point, a food and supply distribution center, and more. The library empowered collective action and, in turn, became a symbol of hope. The design to replace the original library aims to amplify its role in the community even further, serving as a hub for learning and exchange. The new Writer’s Library was designed as a collaboration between Snøhetta and Brooklyn-based contemporary artist José Parlá to reflect the neighborhood’s diversity and dynamism. Parlá’s work and the library’s name are born from New York City’s writing culture, an artistic movement that arose during the sixties and early seventies when young artists created art on the walls and subway trains. The facade features fritted colored panels designed by Parlá that visually reflect the city’s vibrant cultural history and many spoken languages. The interior is organized around an inverted pyramidal atrium, which allows the penetration of natural light to the ground floor and a view of the sky...[+][+]