For the London Design Biennale, Drop Everything is presenting the results of collaboration between residency participants working across design, construction, research and creative technology, bringing their remote island residency project to a global audience.

An Leabharlann is a library collection and piece of micro-architecture situated on the seafront of Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, just off the west coast of Ireland.

The structure is formed from modular rectangular prisms stacked at offset angles. Designer Harrison Gardner was inspired by the traditional building techniques on the island, including Inis Oírr's characteristic dry-stacked stone walls, dividing the island into hundreds of grazing and growing fields.

Two time Drop Everything artist Jake Harper is the founder of a new image search tool, used here to present over 1000 images of books and texts. We are excited to be the first public users of this tool, as this early iteration of the software has allowed us to exhibit the library's collection in a very distinctive way.

Both the computer generated model of the site and AI assisted image search tool allows visitors to explore this unique construction and collection. The collection focuses on the research interests of Drop Everything participants across art and design practices, and the resonance of these subjects through language and place. 

More info on the London Design Biennale curated by Es Devlin here.

Everything Is Subject To Change

Initially, An Leabharlann was to be presented onsite at Somerset House at the London Design Biennale.

True to Drop Everything's ethos of adaptability, presenting our contribution digitally allowed us to explore how challenges can inspire new design thinking, creating space for process and possibility. This digital project is the first step in developing a fully formed computer game and education tool using the island as the location.

Thank you to the London Design Biennale for allowing us to take An Leabharlann and reinvent it in the digital space.