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Virginia Tech

The Anamorphic Library

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis examines the idea of perspective, specifically anamorphic perspective, and how anamorphosis can be applied to architecture. Anamorphosis is a distorted image that appears regular only from a certain point. With a focus on anamorphosis, perspectival drawings became the key component in the design of the library. Perspectives have been embodied in architecture; however, they remained limited to the realm of illusion, distinct from constructed reality. The library contains this duality of illusionism and realism. Similar to reading a book, one might get lost in the story, imagine themself as one of the characters, and question if they are in reality, or in the illusion of the book. To further enforce this falsehood, the library holds fictional books, ranging from fairy tales to mythological books. The library is constructed with three main corridors, which wrap around the inner core, an open-air courtyard. The corridors contain the illusion while the "reality" resides adjacent to these corridors. This gives the spectator a chance to witness the stage of the illusion and the behind-the-scenes of the illusion, the reality.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2016

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Davies, Kelley Adair
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Emmons, Paul F.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Feuerstein, Marcia F.
  • Holt, Jaan

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:8303
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/71681

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Davies, Kelley Adair. The Anamorphic Library. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71681