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ANDREAS JAEGER

Thesis submitted to the faculty of

Virginia Polytechnic Institute


and State University

in partial fulfillment of the require-


ments for the degree

L I B R A R Y

MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
-Between past and present-

May, 1999

William Brown Chairman

William Galloway

James Jones

Heinrich Schnoedt
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Introduction 1

Site 2

Project 12

The addition to the library 13


Tour through the building 27
The west facade 59
The spatial development of the addition 69
The development of the university square 82

Summary of Thoughts 93

Appendix 95

Floor plans 96

Notes/Credits 112

Bibliography 113

Acknowledgements 114

Vita 115
-Libraries are institutions of learning -

They represent the cultural


heritage and values of a society.

Public libraries are often located at places of


urban significance or, in the course of time
help to establish the latter. They may be land-
marks in the urban landscape and help to ori-
ent oneself. A public library serves the people,
and its spirit should be truly public.
A City and University Library in particular, is a
highly frequented place where students and citi-
zens meet. It can therefore easily become more
than just a place for obtaining information. It
can become a place for human interaction,
offering spaces to enjoy a concert, to exhibit
art or to go there to have lunch or dinner. In
that sense, it could be transformed from an
institution which is usually used during the day
into a vital place which is also used in the
evening and on the weekend.

The following project pursues the notion of


breaking with the traditional image of a public
library, expanding its service and thus increas-
ing its position as a place of public interest.
This notion is a result of my thesis work, rather
than the initial idea from which I started.

The location of the project at the edge of the


university campus in Frankfurt, Germany and 1
the existence of a theater next to the existing
library offered the possibility of establishing a
cultural meeting place in one of Frankfurt’s
city districts.
T h e S i t e
2
3
Geographical Context

Europe

Germany

State of Hesse

Frankfurt am Main
U r b a n C o n t e x t

Botanical
Garden
Site

Johann Wolfgang Goethe


Universtity Campus

Trade Fair

Main River

5
Frankfurt am Main

Main Train
Station Downtown
Townhouses Botanical Garden

Zeppelinallee Office buildings

Office buildings

The Site

Boc
ken
heim
The site forms the northern end of the univer- er Lan
dstr
sity campus and is located at the intersection asse
of two major roads in Frankfurt. The
Zeppelinallee is part of the ‘Alleenring’, a
beltway that surrounds Frankfurt. The other
major road is the Bockenheimer Landstrasse
which leads directly into downtown in the south-
east. Adjacent to the site to the south is the
university campus that stretches out over three
blocks. The university buildings create various
courtyards inside the blocks to provide quiet
zones on campus. On the western border of the
site are mid-rise office buildings, and the north-
ern end is characterized by mostly four story
townhouses. Office buildings are lined along
6 Bockenheimer Landstr. in the east, and the
botanical garden faces the site in the north- N
east. A side entrance of the garden is located on
Zeppelinallee. The terrain of the site is flat.

W E

S
University buildings in black
Rectifier Station Bockenheimer Depot

Tram Stop Zeppelinallee

Factory, to be demolished

Library building

Entrance and
Administr. building

Subway Exits Existing Buildings

Bockenheimer
Landstrasse
to downtown
The City and University Library, which was
built in the 60’s, consists of a three story en-
trance and administration building and a four
story library building. The center of the site is
occupied by the ‘Bockenheimer Depot’, a
former train depot, built in 1899 which is now
being used as a theater. A rectifier station exists
on the northern end of the site. North of the
City and University Library is an old factory
; building which will be demolished. 7
N Subway exits exist on the eastern and southern
boundaries of the site, and a tram stop is lo-
cated on the western edge.

W E

S
8
1

3
2

Reading Room

The City and University Library


2

1 3
1

Addition, 1988

“The Bockenheim tram depot, built in 1899, is


an outstanding example of wood engineering. The
floor plan of the building is like a three-nave
basilica. The outer walls of yellow brick were not
plastered and have red ledges and band ornaments.
The front is structured with pillars and cornices.
Over the central arch is a half circle window. The
roof structure is with wood bindings or buttresses
10 in a half circle. The ideas for this type of con-
struction originate from architect P. Delormes,
and are rarely seen anymore. The remodeling by
architects Heinrici and Geiger maintained the
appearance of the original building.”

Architectural Guide: Frankfurt am Main

1
1
2

1
11

2
T h e p r o j e c t
12
The addition to the library 13
“You should not be forced to put people through the library.
It should be just something in its structure which says,
‘What a wonderful place to go,’ and of course,
the location has much to do with it,
and its convenience has much to do with it,
but essentially, it is its nature which you are after to convey.
Glare is bad in the library; wall space is important.
Little spaces where you can adjourn with a book
are tremendously important. So you might say
that the world is put before you through the books.”

14
Louis I. Kahn, 1964
7

5
1 Existing library building
2 Existing entrance and administration building
1 3 New university square
6
4 New open air gallery and fountain
5 Former train depot - Bockenheimer Depot
6 Tram stop
4 7 Side entrance - Botanical Garden
2
3 15
To define the eastern boundary of the new
university square, elements are added to the
sides of the existing library buildings. These
elements create a narrow, street-like atrium.
This street is a covered counterpart to the
open plaza and offers a restaurant, a gallery, an
exhibition space, a bookstore, an amphithe-
ater, an auditorium, and the circulation desk of 2
the library at grade. The upper floors are en- 1
tirely dedicated to the library. This configura-
tion allows the entire ground floor to become a
part of the plaza, and the spaces can be used
outside of the library’s operating hours.
The atrium subdivides the existing and the new
parts into two distinct zones. One side is facing
a busy street, the other one is facing the court-
yard-like plaza. This condition offered the pos-
sibility of architectural response.

3
1 Gallery
2 Restaurant and Bar
3 Circulation Desk 4
4 Exhibition Space
5 Auditorium
6 Amphitheater
7 Bookstore

Existing library buildings in dark grey 5 6


16
7 Section

Plan rotated 180


17
18

The different conditions of the added parts, one side is facing a busy street, whereas the other side
19

faces the courtyard-like plaza, demanded architectural response.


20
The massive part

The part of the library building facing the street


is a massive structure with few openings toward
the street. It consists of a row of parallel con-
crete block walls which are reinforced by a
concrete structure. Prefabricated concrete floor
slabs create a repetition of one space module.
This side houses the bookstacks and is meant
to be the permanent, anchoring part of the
library.

21

The massive part houses the bookstacks and is meant to be the permanent, anchoring part of the library.
The light part

The part of the library building facing the plaza Independent outer
houses the reading spaces supported by a steel steel structure
framework that is enclosed by an independent
outer steel structure. The inner steel frame-
work is placed around a concrete bridge struc-
ture and offers the possibility of various space
configurations according to the library’s needs.
The bridges are direct paths to the bookstacks
and may be regarded as ambassadors of the
massive part.
The sample configuration shows reading spaces
on various levels which are connected to each
other by stairs and voids and may be read as
single volumes or as one flowing space.

Inner steel framework “Ambassador” concrete bridge structure connecting to the bookstacks
of the reading spaces

22

The reading spaces - steel structure The reading spaces - enclosed

The light part accommodates the reading rooms, and its independent steel framework inside offers the possibility of spatial variations.
23
Mechanical penthouse

Computer generated study model


24 Placed in front of both the massive and the light parts of the library
building are service elements that house stairs, elevators, bathrooms
and other necessary rooms. These service cores are topped with a
‘mechanical penthouse’ that contains the HVAC systems which serve
the adjacent zones. A gap separates these spaces from the other spaces
and makes them independent. In addition, the service elements act as
a transitional space before entering the bookstack side or the reading
rooms.
25
Service elements are placed in front of each part of the building to serve the adjacent spaces.
26
T o u r t h r o u g h t h e b u i l d i n g
27
28 The library has three major entrances: The south
entrance faces Bockenheimer Landstr. and the
campus, the plaza entrance in the west, and one
in the north that connects to the path.

Bockenheimer Landstrasse
Elevator

Entering the building from the north or south, the


entire length of the atrium is revealed. The visitor
Circulation desk
is presented with the new parts that face each other
and are connected by bridges. The circular circu-
lation desk penetrates into the ‘street’ and marks
the ‘entrance’ to the library.

Elevator

29
1st Floor
The circulation desk of the library is located in the
center of the existing library building. Its counter
penetrates into the ‘street’ and makes it clearly
visible from all three entrances. The two main el-
evators are facing each other and go up and down
30 in the gap between the added parts and the
existing structure.
3rd Floor
A gap separates the service core from the bookstacks. Small
bridges connect both sides and lead to stairs to the different
levels.

31
3rd Floor 4th Floor
3rd Floor

32
33

4th Floor landing


34
Individual study cells are located along the back
aisle of the 2nd and 4th floors. Every structural
bay of the addition which is marked by wide con-
crete columns houses two backfacing carrels.
4th Floor back aisle 35
36
The study carrels are lined with beechwood.
The polished concrete floor stops where the
carrels begin. The reading desks receive light
by narrow two-story windows that separate
the loadbearing concrete structure from the
concrete block infill. Sliding wooden shutters Beechwood
allow one to regulate the amount of direct
light that falls onto the desks.

Polished concrete
37
38 The low ceiling of the bookstack area folds up shortly
before it reaches the outer wall and becomes the
parapet wall of the mezzanine floor. A void above
the carrels is the result. The parapet wall is fairly
high to limit the views down to the carrels, and it
works as a light reflector for the floor below.
5th Floor

39

4th Floor
40
Library at Exeter Academy

Louis I. Kahn’s library at Exeter


Academy has a similar arrangement
of such reading carrels with the dif-
ference that the two-storey space is
big enough to be shared by the mez-
zanine levels, whereas in my project,
the two-storey space is a projection
of the very realm of the reading car-
rels that can almost only be per-
ceivable when sitting at a desk look-
ing up.

41
42

Larger study carrels can be found on the top floor of the building.
43

They provide a view over the city.


44
Views of the massive part 45
46 The reader who prefers larger reading spaces
may walk over to the reading rooms. He can
use the bridges that connect both parts and
experience the atrium space in doing so.
He is presented with the individual reading cells
that are looming into the atrium when taking
one of the bridges to the reading rooms. The
cells are meant to be occupied by individuals
who are doing long term research.
Views of the light part 47
3rd Floor
48
3rd Floor

The concrete bridges provide access to the read- 49


ing rooms and extend to the plaza facade where
they become a little balcony that offers a view of
the plaza.
4th Floor
50 The reading rooms are enclosed by translucent
glass which has transparent openings to offer
views. The translucent enclosure guaranties an
even, indirect light in the spaces. The reader
can choose whether he or she wants to sit close
to an opening and have a view or to concen-
trate on reading where there are no openings.
5th Floor

51
The notion of transparency and translucency characterizes the reading rooms.

Town hall in The Netherlands


4th Floor
52 Separated from the reading rooms that pen-
etrate each other is one room that has no
‘windows’ on eye level. It offers a transparent
clere story window that marks different ceiling
heights. Readers can concentrate on their stud-
ies. A similar space that is defined by its perim-
eter and the incoming light is Peter Zumthor’s
Kunsthaus in Bregenz.
Kunsthaus Bregenz 53
View from 4th floor of existing library building

6th Floor
54 Floor cutouts mark the location where the new
atrium penetrates the existing library buildings
to guarantee a continuation of the atrium space.
These openings subdivide the existing building
into reading zones and bookstack spaces.
View toward reading rooms from 2nd floor of existing library building 55

View toward reading rooms from 4th floor of existing library building
Mezzanine Level - Bookstore

56
T h e B o o k s t o r e o n t h e G r o u n d F l o o r
Basement - Bookstore

57
58
T h e W e s t F a c a d e
59
60
View along cavity space be-
tween screen and enclosure

The west facade is characterized by a separated


layer of sunscreen elements that are placed
along the entire length of the library. They
formally unite the existing and the new parts
and provide glare-free reading spaces. The
microshade elements block the direct light of
the setting sun in the west but allow light from
other angles to penetrate the screen. This light
is reflected by the micro louvers that distribute
an even, glare-free light into the reading spaces.

61
The screen wall causes a constantly changing appearance
of the building according to the view angle and the time of
the day. The microshade elements block views from the
southwest but allow views from other directions. During
the day, most of the sunlight will be reflected by the screens
and the facade becomes opaque, whereas during the night,
artificial light illuminates the interior and reveals its struc-
ture .

The interior is revealed during the night


62 The facade becomes opaque during the day
Sunscreen Enclosing facade

Cavity space

House in Eichstaett 63
64
65
66
67
68
T h e s p a t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e a d d i t i o n
69
The spatial development of the addition

- The massive part -

I started thinking about the massive part as a


structure that would protect the books from
direct sunlight. A repetitive structural system
of vertical walls defines small spatial units for
stacking the books. These spaces would con-
nect to a larger volume that filters and reflects
direct sunlight to the adjacent spaces.

70

The spatial development of the massive part started with considerations of how daylight should enter the spaces.
71
72
The space adjacent to the bookstacks became 73
higher as the notion of presenting the books
and the strong vertical walls developed.
The spatial development of the addition

- The massive part -

74

Final plan

Early section
and plan
laboratories studies

Salk Institute, early scheme

Salk Institute, final scheme

Final section The final configuration consists of two spa- 75


tially and structurally independent elements. A
similar development can be seen in Louis I.
Kahn’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
where he eventually separated the laboratories
from the studies in an attempt to differentiate
the scientific environment of research from
the study rooms.

Eventually, the high spaces were separated from the bookstacks, due to considerations of servant and served spaces.
The spatial development of the addition

- The light part -

76 Reading rooms in a library must provide a glare-free,


well lit environment. The architect has to deal with
the problem of allowing as much light as possible to
penetrate the room, whereas avoiding direct sun-
light. With this in mind, I started working with the
idea of having different levels of translucency and
transparency to control the light in the reading spaces.
This notion also offered the possibility of engaging
in an architectural and visual dialogue between the
reading rooms and the plaza on the one hand and
between the reading rooms and the opaque part hous-
ing the bookstacks on the other hand.
77

The notion of transparency and translucency was the initial thought for the reading rooms.
78
An architecture of columns is juxtaposed with the vertical walls of the massive part.
Individual study cells were located toward the atrium.

Existing library building

View from existing structure

This early scheme shows the reading rooms as 79


large open spaces structured by unevenly spaced
columns and enclosed by a translucent facade.
The atrium side is lined with small study cells
which could be reserved by individuals on a
long term basis. The floor levels still adhere to
the existing library building, a condition that,
after review, seemed to be unsatisfactory to
the notion of adding new parts to an existing
structure.
The spatial development of the addition

- The light part - 2nd scheme - Floor levels start to move.

In an attempt to make a clear distinction be-


tween the existing structure and the addition,
and to provide a variety of spaces for the read-
ers, I abandoned the idea of large reading rooms
in favor of smaller “reading boxes” that can be 3rd scheme - Different reading rooms penetrate each other.
freely arranged within a steel framework.

80 Early scheme -
Floor levels correspond
to existing structure.

The spatial evolution of the reading rooms shows the effort of


6th Floor

5th Floor

4th Floor

3rd Floor

The final configuration 81

making a distinction between the regularly spaced floors of the existing structure and the added parts.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y s q u a r e
82
U n i v e r s i t y s q u a r e

83
Urban study

An analysis of the site revealed that an urban


proposal would have to establish a northern
ending condition to the university campus.
Furthermore, an entrance or gate situation to
the campus seemed to be necessary, due to the
site’s location at intersecting major roads. Such
an entrance situation would furthermore mark Bockenheimer Landstrasse
the transition from the center of the city to its
outer suburbs since the Zeppelinallee beltway
divides those parts of the city.
A section along Bockenheimer Landstrasse
shows the proposed urban rhythm with gate
buildings, not necessarily high rise structures,
located next to the bisecting beltways. This
rhythm includes a new university square on the
site which would be the counterpart to the
existing downtown Opera Square.

- Section -
Proposed urban rhythm

suburbs medieval
84 center
gate gate
proposed existing
new Opera
University Square
Square

Site Analysis
beltway beltway
I envisioned the new square as a
cultural meeting place for both the
university and the district of
Bockenheim. The intention was to
unite the theater and the library on
a plaza that would enhance the
physical proximity of the two
buildings. I wanted the library
building also to be used during the
night, when the Bockenheimer
Depot attracks audiences with its
different kinds of performances.

The idea for the new university square became the driving force for subsequent design decisions. 85
library

The layout of the university square

The question of how to spatially define a new square


lead to a sequence of sketches and models that exam-
ined various ways of defining an urban space.

86
87
The layout of the university square

City and University Library

Bockenheimer Landstrasse

lee
Zeppelinal
88 The rectilinear arrangement of the university
buildings once determined the placement of
the City and University Library and now serves
as a formgiver for the new university square. A
study of a rectilinear grid for the square exam-
ined the possibilities of creating a public space
that adheres to the urban layout of the univer-
sity and frames the Bockenheimer Depot as its
University buildings
physical centerpiece.
City and University Library

University buildings

The Bockenheimer depot subdivides the square 89


into two almost equal-size parts. The northern
part is enclosed on three sides and is fairly
quiet, whereas the southern part faces
Bockenheimer Landstrasse and thus is open
toward the campus. The fact that the depot is
not a part of the university is intensified by its
rotated position which once was determined
by the layout of the tram tracks.
The path tram stop

A path is introduced which crosses the univer-


sity square parallel to the Bockenheimer De-
pot. It connects the tram stop in the west with
the side entrance of the Botanical Garden which
will be remodeled. Walking on the path offers
varying spatial impressions. It funnels the view
when walking toward the Botanical Garden and
it opens, coming from the opposite direction.

90

A path crosses the square and connects the tram stop in the west with the entrance to the Botanical Garden in the east.
View from tram stop toward the Botanical Garden

91
92
S u m m a r y o f T h o u g h t s

I regard this thesis project as an important step The separation of the addition into two facing
in my architectural studies. For me, the docu- parts with an atrium space in between, was the
mentation of the work offers the opportunity result of a literal translation of urban and site
to contemplate where I see myself in the world considerations into architectural form. This
of architecture and what concepts I can put separation also represents the way I approached
forward to define my own architecture. the design of the addition: First I developed the
This project represents an investigation that massive part and then the light part. When I
started two years ago when I left Germany to look at the project today, that separated ap-
extend my studies at Virginia Tech. Here, I proach seems to be evident. It is at this point
learned to consciously investigate a sensual still more an ‘addition’ rather than a syner-
approach in architecture by studying the cor- getic whole.
relation between light, material, and space in In the future, I want to develop projects based
architecture. I concentrated on the very realm on a spatial idea, from the inside to the outside.
of a person and examined the effects of the Such an approach does not prevent to address
incoming natural light and the textural quality urban and site conditions. I believe that a good
of materials on the space. The awareness of project considers both, the inside and the set-
how to make an architectural space by con- ting, however visible or not.
troling the light and materials is one major My two years of study here at Virginia Tech
contribution of my studies to my architecture. have given me the confidence in my abilities
Expanding a library offered the op- to make architectural spaces by controling the
portunity to apply what I had learned to a big light and materials. It is the search for an archi-
scale project in an urban setting. However, I tecture that says: “This is a good place to
chose to approach the project from an urban work, read, dwell, sleep, ... . 93
point of view which meant for me to first find The next project will fully rely on that notion.
an urban form and then imbed specific spatial
ideas to that form. When reviewing that ap-
proach now, it seems that the location and
nature of the project let me emphasize urban
considerations and reactions to the site and
postpone the search for an architectural form
for a library.
94
A p p e n d i x 95
Elevated Platform

Entrance - Plaza

Exibition

Bar and Restaurant University Bookstore


Kitchen
Amphitheater
Entrance - Bockenheimer Landstr.
Auditorium

Subway Exit Library Administration


Circulation Desk

Library Administration

Library Administration
96
97

Ground Floor
Scale 1:450
Bookstacks

Open to below

Bookstacks

Open to below

Reading Tables

Storage

98

Bookstacks
Mezzanine Floor Bookstore
Scale 1:450

99

Basement Floor Bookstore Ground Floor Bookstore


Scale 1:450 Scale 1:450
Open to below

Open to below

Open to below Open to below

Open to below Periodicals

Open to below

Library Administration

100
101

Second Floor
Scale 1:450
Library Administration

Open to below

Reading Room

Floor Cutouts

Open to below

Special Collections Reading Room

Floor Cutouts
Bookstacks

Open to below
Info Terminals

Bookstacks

Library Administration

Library Administration

102
103

Third Floor
Scale 1:450
Library Administration

Reading Room

Reading Room

Floor Cutouts

Reading Room
Open to below

Open to below Reading Room

Floor Cutouts Study Cells


Bookstacks

Reading Carrels
Info Terminals

Bookstacks

Library Administration

Library Administration

104
105

Fourth Floor
Scale 1:450
Administration Seating Area

Reading Room

Reading Room

Floor Cutouts

Open to below

Terrace
Open to below
Reading Room Reading Room
Terrace
Skylights

Bookstacks
Conference

Open to below
Info Terminals

Bookstacks

Library Administration

Administration Seating Area

106
107

Fifth Floor
Scale 1:450
Reading Room

Open to below

Reading Room

Floor Cutouts
Open to below
Terrace

Reading Room
Open to below
Reading Room
Study Cells

Bookstacks
Open to below

Reading Cells

Reading Carrels

Info Terminals

Bookstacks

Library Administration
108
109

Sixth Floor
Scale 1:450
Skylights

HVAC Systems HVAC Systems

HVAC Systems HVAC Systems

110
111

Mechanical Penthouse Seventh Floor


Scale 1:450
N o t e s / C r e d i t s

p.5,6,7,83 city map of Frankfurt, Stadtver-


messungsamt Frankfurt/Main, p.10, quote from:
Architectural Guide: Frankfurt am Main, vieweg
verlag, 1994, p.41, top left photograph, top
right sketch, Library at Exeter Academy in
Louis I. Kahn, Light and Space, Urs Buettiker,
Whitney Library of Design, 1994, p.130, p.51,
bottom right, town hall in The Netherlands,
ARCH+, Zeitschrift fuer Architektur und
Staedtebau, December 1996, p.53, bottom
right, Kunsthaus Bregenz in a+u, architecture
and urbanism, Februrary 1998, Extra Edition:
Peter Zumthor, p.182/183, p.61, bottom right,
louver panels, ARCH+, Zeitschrift fuer
Architektur und Staedtebau, December 1996,
p.128, p.63, bottom right, Haus Bonnin,
Eichstaett in Centrum, Jahrbuch Architektur
und Stadt 1996, vieweg verlag, Hrsg.: Peter
Neitzke, Carl Steckeweh, Reinhart Wustlich,
p.75, right, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
in Louis I. Kahn, In the Realm of Architecture,
David B. Brownlee, David G. DeLong, The
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles,
Rizzoli, New York, 1991

112
B i b l i o g r a p h y

David B. Brownlee, David G. DeLong,


Louis I. Kahn, In the Realm of Architecture,
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los An-
geles, Rizzoli, New York, 1991

113
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

I dedicate this book to my family. Without their


love and support it would have never been writ-
ten. Thank you for believing in me.

Thanks to:

...my friends and colleagues with whom I shared days and nights in Cowgill for creating an
environment of friendship and mutual help which I have never experienced before.

Amanda ‘Theater’ Adams


Jed ‘Rocketman’ Donaldson
Lynn ‘I’m so tired’ Faulring
Jim ‘Mr. Perfect Defense’ Henderson
Mayte ‘My thesis’ Lugo
Kartikey ‘Carlo’ Patel
Michel ‘Zappelphilip’ Ramirez
Andrea ‘...ne...’ Schwappach
Li-Wen ‘Daddy’ Sung
Toygar ‘Plotter Guru’ Targutay
Maryana ‘Vodka’ Tyupkina
Jun ‘Corner Column’ Xu
Qi ‘Ching-Ching-Wang’ Zhu
Jochen ‘hm....not really’ Ziegler

...my teachers and committee members for their encouragement, consideration and criticism.
Through them, I opened my eyes to see a little bit more in architecture.
114

Bill Brown
Bill Galloway
Jim Jones
Heiner Schnoedt

... the Fulbright Commission for making this experience possible.


V i t a

Andreas Jaeger
March 2nd, 1973

1993-1997 Fachhochschule Darmstadt


Darmstadt, Germany
- to be continued -

1997-1999 Master of Architecture


Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University
Blacksburg, VA
115

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