Walkabout #1 (Bryn)

Upon entering the Urban Lounge for the second time as an observer with an intellectual agenda rather than a tourist, I felt I was seeing an entirely different room. Watching the way people interact with one another, noticing aspects about the Urban Room that make it appealing to the public, and understanding the Urban Room has taken on a role as both a path and a node in the city of Salt Lake were just a few of the points on which my City as Text group touched in discussion.

People didn't interact with strangers or even acknowledge their presence, a characteristic typical of most metropolitan areas. Individuals were completely engrossed in their own tasks, or possibly conversing with a friend that had accompanied them to the lounge. In general, however, the Urban Room itself--excluding the surrounding library--served as a place for temporary relief from the outside elements, with its air-conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. Because the Urban Room is a sort of path, a diverse group of people from outside the library walls are introduced, creating a somewhat high-traffic area. Many people passed through the Urban Room without a glance at the surrounding architectural beauty of it or the unique structure in which it is enclosed, leading me to believe this path is one traveled in their daily routines. Almost all passed the locally owned and operated stores in the Urban Room, a diverse compilation of shopping for visitors to enjoy. I felt these stores were a great factor in enhancing my experience in the Urban Room.

For the store owners and employees of these small shops, the Urban Room is an environment in which their entire, or partial, livelihoods exist. According to the volunteer at the "Library Store", the shops in the Urban Room don't get as much business as was originally expected; however, although incredibly interesting,I don't believe the stores would still be in business were it not for the traffic in the Urban Room and its location next to the library. Had these stores, however unique and wonderful, been located on a downtown block, they would be lost in the chaos of the city.

I was very pleased to discover some of the many interesting objects for sale in two stores in particular, the "English Garden" and the "Library Store", a non-profit shop whose proceeds go back to the library. My group took the opportunity to speak with a Library Store volunteer about the history of the library, the history of the Urban Room, and her feelings about both.

The library was constructed in 2004, and the idea of the Urban Room stemmed from a similar room found in the Vancouver, WA library. Initially after the library was built, and the Urban Room along with it, there was a "problem" with homeless inhabitants of the city sleeping in the Urban Room, because of the comfortable atmosphere and furniture. Eventually, to solve the problem, the furniture was removed directly in front of the Urban Room cafes and shops, leaving only a few not-so-comfortable tables and chairs. Although the library is open to the public, the general rule exists that there is no sleeping allowed inside the building, including the Urban Lounge. The library's purpose is for intellectual enhancement, empowerment, and enjoyment, the Urban Room, for small communal activity and unique shopping.

Not only were the shops pleasing, but the most profound aspect about the Urban Room, the thing that made me most want to return, is the beautifully crafted architecture. The surrounding library, the glass windows and natural light, the immense walls and ceilings, and the modern appeal are extremely aesthetically pleasing. The natural light makes for both an ideal study environment and a place of temporary relaxation. The stone floors create a continuation of outdoor to indoor space, an easy flow from one to the other. They appear almost as cobblestone streets, yet much more refined and elegant. The imageability of the Urban Room is apparent upon entering the rotating glass doors.

The overall experience of my group's travel to the Urban Room was a positive one, an activity in which we were allowed to appreciate the meaning of it. Spending time viewing parts of the city as legible, distinctive features certainly enhances the way in which I perceive the city as a whole.