[PDF] Library Buildings around the World

View - Download Library Buildings around the World

Previous PDF

Next PDF

Library Buildings around the World

Compiled by Andreas J. Werner

Frankfurt am Main, 2013

© Dr. Andreas J. Werner

Introduction

"Library Buildings around the World" is a survey based on researches of several years. The objective was to

gather library buildings on an international level starting with 1990. Completeness was neither possible nor

intended, but nevertheless a comprehensive compendium has been accomplished.

The countries included are listed in alphabetical order as well as the architects' offices within each country. The

index is arranged according to countries, places, libraries and architects' offices.

The buildings of each office are listed according to the date of completion. Included are individual buildings as

well as libraries integrated into bigger sites serving different purposes.

All kinds of libraries are considered.

The year 1990 has not been selected by chance. The German reunification, the collapse of the so-called Eastern

Bloc and the rapid development of electronic communication channels have changed the world effectiveley since

then.

One can say that library buildings were booming starting with 1990, above all in the Anglo-American countries.

In Western Europe especially France and the Netherlands are to distinguish. The survey reveals the outstanding

role of these countries as far as library buildings are concerned.

It is my pleasure to thank Berndt Dugall, Director of the University Library J.C. Senckenberg, Frankfurt a.M.

and Ursula Kleefisch-Jobst, Executiv Curator, M:AI (Museum für Architektur and Ingenieurkunst NRW),

Gelsenkirchen.

Andreas J. Werner

Preface

Computers and the Internet have revolutionized the flow of information in a similar way to Gutenberg's printing

press in days of old. Today, e-books, digitally available periodicals and networked databases for rapid research

are just as valid as books and printed periodicals. The latter have forfeited neither their importance nor their

significance, despite the fact that claims to this effect have been made repeatedly from time to time. However,

the reverse is true. Every year the Frankfurt Book Fair reports increased publication figures. Accordingly, the

age-old task of building libraries is not yet obsolete. Quite to the contrary: Dr. Andreas Werner's impressive

survey of new library buildings throughout the world erected over only the last 20 years demonstrates that the

construction of libraries is currently experiencing a boom the likes of which has not been seen in the preceding

centuries.

The task of building libraries has become more varied. From the scholars' "hortus conclusus" to the place where

documents were stored, libraries have become educational and cultural establishments, meeting points and

leisure-time amusements for all kinds of social strata. Today, new library buildings are seen as driving forces

behind the development of districts and towns and, with their sometimes extravagant architecture, a number of

these new edifices are considered "signature buildings", on an equal footing with other cultural buildings such as

museums and theaters. Nevertheless, looking at the situation internationally, the social standing of libraries,

particularly that of public libraries, does vary greatly from country to country. This is visible not only in the

number of libraries per capita but also, and especially, in the amounts of money spent on individual new

buildings, and I am not talking about prestigious national libraries, funded by monies raised from sponsors or

even financed by a specific tax levied for the library project in question. On this count the English-speaking

countries and in particular the United States are world leaders.

Basically, we can distinguish between two kinds of libraries. On the one hand there are academic libraries for

universities, central or specialist libraries, as well as the libraries belonging to research institutions, schools and

educational establishments and on the other the wide range of public libraries. Private libraries represent a class

of their own; most of these are specialist libraries, since the documents they contain reflect their owners' tastes.

Since the 1980s, scientific libraries have experienced a major upswing as the ever-growing number of students

has required a rapid growth in university establishments. This has been accompanied by the change in the way

the academic environment operates because of computers and the Internet. This being the case, new

infrastructures - particularly, electronic workstations - have needed to be created or existing facilities expanded.

Academic libraries are still characterized by the existence of a central reading room at their heart in the tradition

of the great 19 th -century libraries. In many cases this central hall extends over several stories in the form of

"levels" with open workstations directly adjacent to the open-access areas. However, the newer libraries

increasingly boast open, flowing spatial continua interwoven, island-like, with working and communication

areas of varying sizes, media stations and bookshelves. Two of the most radical examples are the learning center

in Lausanne by Tokyo-based SANAA and one of the earliest instances of the black box by Wiel Arets on the

University of Utrecht's campus (2004). In this open-plan entity noises are muffled by means of special materials

and by the furniture. Elaborate façades that not infrequently reference the subject of "books" featuring

artistically printed glass panels, dyed concretes, natural stone or high-tech materials allow these libraries to step

out of the shadow of the respective institute's other buildings. Now and then, they have even become hallmarks

of particular campuses (IKMZ, University of Applied Sciences, Cottbus, Herzog & de Meuron, 2004).

Public libraries have undergone the greatest transformation in recent years. The thinking behind this is not only

to make electronic media accessible to the general public but, more especially, to improve the range of

educational and cultural services on offer. Germany has long since gone down its own special route in this

respect with its public libraries, the "Büchereien". In the past, one of these institutions' most important functions

was to lend out books and media. But today, public libraries and "Büchereien" are places of culture and leisure-

time activities which are enjoyable to spend time in and whose influence radiates out into the surrounding urban

districts. Accordingly, the previously prevalent type of public library has undergone fundamental changes.

Within an open, flowing space often extending over several stories, various designs and different furnishings

make for individual "islands", not only for the different media, alongside books, periodicals, videos, CDs and

access to the Internet and to databases, but also in terms of various groups of users. Different materials and

colors have found their way into the libraries, most especially in the sections for children and young people. In

the Netherlands, a studio going by the name of AEQUO BV Architects has focused entirely on library interiors,

handling the interior design for the library projects implemented by a large number of well-known architectural

firms. Spacious entrance areas that entice visitors in from the outside, impressive staircases and escalators

providing access to all stories show that new-style libraries have taken their lead from department stores (Joe

Coenen, Centrale Openbare Bibliotheek, Amsterdam, 2004). Here, library users are clients and the objective is to

keep them in the library as long as possible. One of the first libraries to stage a "path" along the bookshelves was

Rem Koolhaas' library in Seattle in 2004.

Yet it is not only their wide range of media that makes present-day libraries attractive, but also educational and

cultural offers. For instance, it is not infrequently the case that libraries include lecture halls, seminar rooms,

sometimes small cinemas and theaters and very often restaurant facilities. A more recent development,

particularly in English-speaking countries, France and Scandinavia, attaches libraries to other public institutions

and commercial enterprises. In the Netherlands it has even been the case that what is known as the kulturhus

(house of culture) has become a new focal point of a downtown area or urban district. The new city hall, home to

The Hague's municipal administration and designed by Richard Meier, which opened in 1994, also housed a

public library, an innovative idea at the time. One of the rare examples in Germany is the newly opened Forum

Mittelrhein in downtown Koblenz, a mixture of shopping mall and cultural edifice (Benthem Crouwell

Architects, 2012-13). In Australia, a leisure pool with a library was recently opened in a single complex.

Although at first glance this seems bizarre, the idea has its roots in antiquity; after all, Roman baths always

included libraries, as well.

The idea of combining the use of libraries with educational programs and access to the media has resulted in

libraries being established in socially disadvantaged urban districts. For instance, in London David Adjaye

created something known as idea stores in districts largely inhabited by migrants. One of these "stores" was even

situated on the roof of a department store. In France, in 19XX, the government introduced a publicly-funded

program for what is known as médiathèques. A large number of small and medium-sized libraries are being set

up throughout the country, often in districts in need of revitalization or on the outskirts of towns between

McDonald's and rest stops (médiathèque in Troyes, DBL du Besset-Lyon architects, 2002).

However, alongside the construction of new buildings, in many cases - particularly in Europe - abandoned

buildings, indeed entire industrial complexes have been reinforced and converted into libraries. In such cases the

challenge for the architects is to adopt a sensitive approach to the existing material. One example:

MANSILLA+TUNON Artistas created a new home for the regional library and the City of Madrid's municipal

archive on the former site of the Aguila brewery (2004). A firm of Berlin-based architects, raumbewegung,

joined forces with ff-architekten to redesign and extend the small station at Luckenwalde, converting it into a

lively municipal library (2008). Mongielo&Plisson transformed a former foundry into a cultural center with a

library. At the beginning of the year, Bibliotheca Hertziana opened its "book garden" by Navarro Baldeweg.

Since time immemorial, especially prestigious buildings have been chosen for the various national libraries as

they are considered as important as museums, theaters and opera houses and evidence of a particular country's

culture. Accordingly, over recent decades a number of outstanding library buildings have been erected. One of

the prime examples is the French Bibliothèque Nationale by Dominique Perrault which opened in 1995,

designed as four glass bookshelves grouped around a central entrenched reading room. The purpose of this

stellar building on a former industrial site was to act as the symbol of a new district of Paris. The same applies to

the "black diamond" in a one-time dockyard area of Copenhagen, following a design by schmitt/hammer/lassen

architects. And in the port of Oslo the experts are presently eagerly anticipating the Deichmann Main Library,

designed by Atelier Oslo Architects (currently under construction). In 2008 in Beijing a Frankfurt-based firm of

architects, KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten, designed the new national library of China, the third-largest library in

the world. In 2002 in Alexandria the once-legendary library of antiquity reopened after 2,000 years in a new

building designed by a Norwegian studio, Snohetta, in the form of a flat disk which appears to be swimming in a

basin of water.

As far as the architectural design and stylistic vocabulary of the individual libraries is concerned, even a

comprehensive survey reveals no distinct trends. On the contrary, a look at what is happening throughout the

world reveals the entire breadth of the current repertoire in terms of architectural shapes and designs, something

that it is difficult to place into specific categories. Indeed, it becomes clear that a kind of universal architectural

style is coming into being under the influence of globalization. Alongside the examples inspired by classic

modern European architecture is everything from architecture with a postmodern feel to an internationalized

style, from buildings that very much take their lead from technology to sculptural edifices. At the same time, the

smaller library buildings in particular tend to clearly reflect local building traditions, shapes and materials, a kind

of regionalism - in the positive sense.

Compiled over a period of many years and with an admirable meticulousness, Andreas Werner's survey is thus

also one of the current status of architecture and architectural culture. By profession a librarian, Werner has, over

the course of his research, become a connoisseur of architecture. And the survey has developed into a veritable

corpus - in the classical sense - on contemporary library buildings.

Ursula Kleefisch-Jobst

1

Argentine

Estudio Borrachia - PYRE Departamento de Planificación y realización edilicia

Universidad de Morón - Argentine

Oscar A. Borrachia, Alejandro H. Borrachia

http://www.estudioborrachia.com.ar

Libraries:

Biblioteca Central Universidad de Morón - Argentine 2009 Comitente : Fundacion Universidad de Morón, Superficie : 1000 m2

Literature:

Carlos J. Vial. "Biblioteca Central Universidad Moron / Estudio Borrachia". En: Plataforma Arquitectura (19 diciembre 2011)

La Biblioteca és una obra de l'equip d'arquitectes argentí Estudio Borrachia, ubicada a la ciutat de Moron, a la província de Buenos

Aires. Té 1.000m2, distribuïts en dues plantes, en un solar estret i llarg. Les dues plantes superiors ocupen només la meitat de la

planta, longitudinalment, deixant un gran espai buit, on hi una les comunicacions verticals i la llum zenital que entra a la Biblioteca

mitjançant la coberta. Una coberta d'estructura metàl·lica i corba, i que fou muntada abans que la resta de l'edifici. Es planteja la

Biblioteca com un gran espai únic, sense límits ni separacions entre usuaris i documents. Al mateix temps, aquest espai resulta

flexible per a futurs canvis, ampliacions o modificacions. Un espai amb un aire de fàbrica, industrial, en què es troben a la vista tant

materials constructius, com les instal·lacions elèctriques, la il·luminació, etc. (http://www.bauenblog.info)

Clorindo Testa, Buenos Aires - Argentine

* 1923 Naples, Italy

Libraries:

Biblioteca de la Camera de Diptados, Prov. De la Pampa, Ciudad de Sanata Rosa - Argentina 2005 http://deu.archinform.net

Arquitectos: Clorindo Testa y Miguel García

Ubicación: Centro Cívico, Ciudad de Santa Rosa, Provincia de La Pampa. Argentina, Superficie: 565 m2

El nuevo edificio para la Biblioteca Anexa a la Cámara de Diputados de la Gobernación de La Pampa, construye un lenguaje

arquitectónico que se desplaza hacia cierta estética de la imagen, y que en la concepción plástica de Clorindo Testa y Miguel García,

vigoriza la relación entre forma, uso y tecnología y ubica así la arquitectura dentro de la producción del arte contemporáneo.

Una premisa fundante del proyecto consistió en la necesidad de diferenciar su escala respecto de la monumentalidad del núcleo

urbano. La plasticidad de la implantación quiebra las normativas racionalistas del conjunto, cuando el despliegue curvilíneo de la

cubierta cae sobre el parque, y el color amarillo del edificio remite al paisaje invernal y al jardín de girasoles pampeanos.

El edificio se organiza en dos plantas en doble altura y un subsuelo destinado al depósito de libros. En la planta baja se ubica la sala

de lectura, el acceso general del público y un sector de lectura para niños. Desde el entrepiso, un puente cubierto y rampado hacia el

exterior vincula directamente la biblioteca al edificio de la Cámara de Diputados. El efecto escultórico del edificio impacta por la

diversidad de distintas geometrías. El ángulo recto, en las plantas de los pequeños volúmenes, se forma con el encuentro entre una

curva y una recta para diferir en el desarrollo volumétrico. La exaltación de las partes disímiles produce una discontinuidad que

deriva en la sorpresa, así como efectos contrapuestos en las miradas desde el parque y la ciudad. La analogía del caparazón de un

animal prehistórico, es reconocida como referente por Clorindo Testa. En el subsuelo, donde se encuentra el depósito de libros, se

dispone de una sala de lectura para investigadores y un sector de restauración de libros antiguos, con acceso del público.

Los conciertos al aire libre desde la pequeña promenade o las exposiciones interiores, tales como la exhibición de fotos de los

desaparecidos de La Pampa, transforman el espacio de quietud de la lectura hacia una forma de lenguaje capaz de integrar la

memoria de la historia y la experiencia plástica de la arquitectura. (http://bibliotequera.blogspot.com)

Biblioteca Nacional, Buenos Aires - Argentine 1992 with cooperation Alicia D. Cazzanica and Francisco Bullrich

The National Library of the Argentinean Republic was founded September 1810. In 1960, according to law 12.351, the library got

the permission to construct a new building on three hectares in the area enclosed by Avenida Libertador San Martin and Las Heras

and the streets Agüero and Austria. A national competition was organised to select the architect, won in 1961 by Clorinda Testa,

Alicia D. Cazzanica and Francisco Bullrich. The building however, was not inaugurated until 1993. The library is built in the

Brutalist Style, exposing an excessive amount of concrete. The public library is situated in a volume lifted on top of four concrete

cores, each containing 13 piles with a diameter of 1.2 metre. The view from the interior of the library towards the city of Buenos

Aires is magnificent. The book deposit, a school for librarians and the machine room are located in the basement.

(http://www.mimoa.eu)

Municipal public library of Grosuplje is located in the heart of the city and represents one of the most vivid parts of public life in the

community with 18.500 inhabitants. Nowadays library members represent 35% of regional population and the percentage grows

noticeably every year. Library activity in the community started before the Second World War with social and trade union libraries.

Independent public library was established in 1962 and later in 1967 the first professional librarian was employed. The development

of the new library information system, technology, social and economic relations resulted the need for a modern library building.

Library with modern technical facilities, better access to the library collection and more spacious reading room. In 2003,

municipality of Grosuplje started the renovation and in 2007 the new library has been opened. With a quality ICT equipment and

services and adequate respond on demanding requirements of modern learning the library fulfilled its role as a knowledge provider.

Today library employs nine librarians who provide professional librarian service for each and everyone that grounds in personal

2

and trusting relation between users and services. Library has approximately 750 visitors per day. It provides large amount of

contemporary literature, electronic journals, free access to the internet and comfortable reading and studying areas. The latter are

sufficiently equipped with a well chosen collection of key literature, reference material and journals. Visitors can also visit

exhibitions in the gallery, drink a cup of coffee in cafeteria or join evening cultural events. For the youngest members library

organises special storytelling hours. The image and identity of this library arise also from tight cooperation with local schools,

kinder-gardens, cultural and other associations. ( http://www.librarybuildings.info ) 1

Australia

Allen Jack + Cottier Architects, Sydney-Chippendale, NSW - Australia http://www.architectsajc.com

Libraries:

Rouse Hill Town Centre, Rouse Hill Library, NSW - Australia 2008

In association with Rice Daubney and Group GSA

Library: 2.500 m², $ 2.500.000

In towns and cities, public space has traditionally served as a meeting place, marketplace and traffic way. Enjoyable towns and cities

find a comfortable balance between these three demands, without forfeiting their links with the natural world. The starting point for

the design of Rouse Hill Town Centre was a desire to achieve this balance, responding at the same time to the climatic environment

of Rouse Hill, and the principles of ecologically sustainable design.

Rouse Hill Town Centre, sits at the heart of the 120-hectare New Rouse Hill site in northwest Sydney, which has been identified by

the state government as a major corridor for Sydney's expansion, and will account for 20 per cent of the city's population growth.

The New Rouse Hill is a joint venture project between GPT and Lend Lease, and was developed within the context of a masterplan

prepared by Civitas Urban Design and Planning in partnership with the NSW Department of Planning and Landcom.

The GPT Group is the developer, owner and manager of the $470 million Rouse Hill Town Centre, which has all the facilities of a

small town, including a shopping-centre precinct, commercial space, a nine-screen cinema complex, education, library and

community facilities, a health and medical centre, and good transport links. The design of Rouse Hill Town Centre was delivered by

a consortium of three architectural firms - Rice Daubney, Allen Jack+Cottier and Group GSA. (Allen) Ancher / Mortlock / Wooley, Sydney-Ultimo, VIC - Australia http://www.amwarchitects.com.au

Libraries:

State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC - Australia 1990 - 2007

The Melbourne Public Library was established in 1853. Library Trustees were appointed and they immediately announced a

competition to design the building. The competition was won by Joseph Reed (*23.02.1823 Constantine, Cornwall, England - +

29.04.1890 Melbourne-Borondaara) , the architect of many of Melbourne's notable buildings. Under his design the Library buildings

were to be built in several stages. The first Library building opened in February 1856, during the Victorian gold rush. The famous

Dome (now called the La Trobe Reading Room) opened in 1913. $ 120.000.000

The SLV project's restoration and adaptive reuse work has involved 13 adjoining buildings erected on the site between 1856 and

1965. These historic buildings form one of the most significant heritage groups in Australia and are important for having been the

principal educational and cultural centre for the people of Victoria over the past 150 years. Of particular significance in AMW

architectural work, is the interior restoration of the Domed Reading Room, Queens Hall (future work), McCoy Hall, &

reinstatement of the glass rooflights to the dome and the other major toplit former gallery spaces.

The first major buildings on the site, designed by Joseph Reed, are significant as the first purpose built, free public library in

Australia and one of the first in the world. Successive buildings are important as the first homes of the National Gallery of Victoria,

the Industrial and Technological Museum and its successor the Museum of Victoria. Many of these buildings are now well known

and culturally significant icons, such as Queens Hall for its elaborate interior and as an early example in library design; the Domed

Building designed by NG Peebles, for its impressively proportioned, high interior space and for the technical construction of its

reinforced concrete dome roof which was the largest in the world for its time; and the McCoy Hall with its flanking galleries and

clerestory rooflight. (Ancher)

...At the time the main project commenced, in 1989, it was envisaged that the Victorian State Library Redevelopment Project would

be completed in five stages over a minimum period of seven years. However, the work has involved significantly more stages and

when construction of Stage 6 is completed in Mid 2006 will have taken over 16 years to complete. During this period, the project has

seen many changes, including five State Librarians and three changes of State Government. The current project is for the

redevelopment of the State Library of Victoria with refurbishment, adaptive reuse and the restoration of the heritage buildings, and

the construction of new infill buildings and courtyard enclosures. Restoration and adaptive reuse has involved the 13 adjoining

buildings erected on the site between 1865 and 1965. These historic buildings form one of the most important heritage groups in

Australia. Of particular architectural significance is the interior restoration of the Domed Reading Room, Queens Hall (future

work), McCoy Hall, & reinstatement of the glass rooflights to the dome the other major toplit spaces. ....

2ARM, Melbourne, VIC - Australia

http://www.a-r-m.com.au

Libraries:

Albury Library/Museum, Albury, NSW - Australia 2007 € 8.000.000ardAward

"Albury Library/Museum has revolutionised the reading and borrowing habits of the city in the past year. More children are

borrowing more books, and the adults are following them. Staff are reporting "a phenomenal increase across a range of services"

Border Mail. 26 July 2008. ARM is proud to have provided the architectural services for the Albury Library/Museum. After being

appointed in early 2003, ARM began working with Albury City Council to create the combined facility of the Albury Public Library

and the Albury Museum. Council's vision was for a single civic facility to provide a library, museum, community and new IT

facilities for the Albury region, all co-located as a new type of public building. Our architectural vision for the building was to bring

together reminiscences and almost familiar elements from the Albury region; the giant webbing of the railway bridge over the

Murray, the banks, levees and trees of the surrounding landscape, the river course itself, the streetscape of the Civic precinct, the

coved cornices of a railway carriage, even the types of materials that one sees on the buildings in Albury. (ARM)

St. Kilda Library + Town Hall, Melbourne, VIC - Australia 1994 € 7.600.000

Vividly aware of the St Kilda context, using associations and symbols of the area, the building architecturally develops the

deconstruction of the cargo culture of the ex-colonies. The fetishised culture of world architecture is tested in a local setting. The

open space in Carlisle Street has been redeveloped as a civic plaza, establishing a link to the library. The extension of the existing

library, originally designed by Dr Enrico Taglietti, involved an upgrade of existing facilities, providing additional book stacks, main

desk, entry and public face. Much effort was undertaken to retain the original, and in adding to it, in order to positively extend the

fine brutalist work. The new street façade of the addition is a curved bluestone clad "book", with a flush S curved picture window,

an "illustration page" with overtones of a video screen, a simple and evocative image providing an obvious focus for the community.

This is symbolic architecture. It is a building which plays a strong role in an important civic space. The monumental idiom of the

project continuously tests the proposition of the death of the book, while in stylistic terms the form contests another neo Baroque.

(ARM) Brewster Hjorth Architects, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW - Australia http://www.brewsterhjorth.com.au Rockdale Civic Centre and Library, Sydney-Rockdale, NSW - Australia 2012 (final design report) James Cook University ICU, Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, Townsville-Douglas, QLD - Australia 2012 Size: 3.500 m², Cost: $ 9.000.000, Completed: July 2012

The Eddie Koiki Mabo Library of Townsville's James Cook University is the landmark and built focus of the Campus which was

laid out by the prominent Queensland Architect James Birrell. He also designed the original library building which was to become

his Master-work.

The 1966 building had an 'organic' plan form and sculptured section and off-form concrete envelope reminiscent of Corbusier's

later work.

This redevelopment reinforces the importance of Birrell's concept minimising the impact of later additions, to create modern, open,

technology rich learning environments. The redevelopment has been designed in three stages.

Conceptual Framework

The completed work is the first stage of a concept design that re-organises all 3 floors of the building: The original undercroft is

opened up to create a series of open, interconnected public spaces with the introduction of a new central circulation spine at each

level of the building aligning with the Masterplan axis of the campus, incorporating a new south entry to the building, and a re-

organisation of its functional zones arranged along the new spine.

Student Reading and Study spaces are positioned to the northern edge of the original building where the full drama of the

architecture is revealed.

The new concept responds to the digital-age approach to to information access. The physical collection is relocated along the

southern side of the building as a permanently accessible resource leaving more space for interactive and collaborative learning.

The conceptual approach to the interior design is to reveal the original robust design of the building with powerful, off-form concrete

walls, voids and striking structure, and respond to this in the design of the new interventions.

The spatial arrangements, functional planning and detailed design of spaces and furniture incorporate a light and unconstrained

language of curves which relate to the original structure.

Program Resolution

The integration of new "student commons" with 24 hour access, and teaching spaces dedicated to new modes of group and

interactive learning were core of the brief requirements for this stage of the redevelopment, Stages 2 and 3 relate to the collection

and passive learning spaces on the building's upper levels.

Integration of Allied Disciplines

The reduced height of the original undercroft necessitated complex underfloor services and HVAC ducting. The work required

detailed co-ordination of the architecture with the Building Services engineering. Structural interventions were limited but highly

sensitive given the exposed nature of the off form concrete envelope and structure.

Public and Cultural Benefit

The new Eddie Koiki Mabo Library re-asserts its importance at the core of the University and gives new life to a marvelous building.

It provides the student body with new spaces for shared and interactive learning, reflecting modern pedagogies, supported by

pervasive access to electronic data technology.

The new interior street, along with the adjacent Southern Entry and Landscaping, supports the planned re-organisation of the

campus Masterplan towards its original Jeffersonian intentions, with the University Library as the head and centre of the campus.

The Eddie Mabo Library at the Townsville Campus of James Cook University is the landmark building of the University. It was

originally designed by the prominent Queensland Architect James Birrell in 1966, with an original and organic concept. The

building was built as the centre of the university Masterplan, with Construction being staged over several years. The building was

extended in 1991 to its present size of 9,500m2. 3

The redevelopment of the Library aimed to bring it into the 21st century with the creation of technology rich learning environments

of various formats to bring North Queensland University education to the forefront of developments in Tertiary education.

Design Innovation

The redevelopment will create learning and research environments that build on the advantages of electronic data access and the

trend to shared and interactive learning.

The redevelopment includes student "commons" which give up to 24 hour access to students to study for study and research with

computer and data access as well as study booths and reading areas that support group learning and research. (Brewster)

Ashfield Civic Centre, Sydney-Ashfield, NSW - Australia 2011

Costs: $ 15.500.000

Ashfield Civic Centre is a revitalisation of the Ashfield Town Centre led by Ashfield Council with the creation of a new Civic Centre

and Public Library on the site of the old Ashfield Council Offices.

The redevelopment of the site includes the 2 original council buildings, and a new 3 level building which integrates all levels of the

facility via new lifts and a 3 storey atrium. Facilities include a new Public Library of approximately 2,000m2, modern customer

services facilities housed in a grand public foyer, new public meeting rooms for 200, as well as Youth Centre, Early Childhood

Centre, Council Offices, and an upgraded Town Hall with the seating capacity for 300.

Design Innovation

The design of the new Civic Centre extends the benefits of co-location of council facilities by providing a seamless connection to all

facilities. The Public Access to all of the facilities are provided within an open and united space where it is possible to speak to

council officers, return library material, attend a public meeting or access community services at the one address. Multiple access

points are provided from Liverpool Road, the adjacent retail mall and public carparking facilities.

By using electronic book tagging, security is limited to the building perimeter only with the public free to move between facilities in

the Centre. The Centre has the feel of a modern department store where services may be accessed electronically, through self service

points or by open contact with council staff. The library facilities include for IT access to the public throughout the facility with no

separation between the physical collection and electronic services. Checkout and return can be done completely independently of

library staff, freeing staff to provide individualised service to users in accessing the collection.

Council offices have been amalgamated onto a single level with an open plan design providing for ease of access of staff with

extensive meeting rooms and informed meeting spaces creating a relaxed and interactive environment. (Brewster)

Cooroy Library and Digital Hub, Cooroy, QLD - Australia 2010 Physical Size: 1,650 m², Cost: $ 8.500.000, Completed: September 2010

The Cooroy Library and Digital Information Hub was developed as part of Mill Place Master Plan for Cooroy, which created a new

vibrant link between the existing Art gallery, housed in the Butter Factory Building, and the upgraded rural industry areas, vacated

by the closing of the local Mill Place timber mill.

The new Library and Digital Hub creates a bridge between the Butter factory Art Gallery and the main city street, opening up to the

recreational park created within the site of the Mill Place timber Mill. The link has been achieved by digging the new library in into

the existing slope, bridging level difference of 6 m between the Art Gallery and the recreational park.

The building includes a large new public library design for the Cooroy community and capturing the larger community living in the

hinterlands surrounding Cooroy. The library incudes a technology rich hub, with digital training rooms, community rooms,

community lounge, reading areas and café that can open onto a large covered verandah visually and physically connection it to the

recreational park.

Building Form

The building was designed a two curved opposed pavilions. The western pavilion is dug into the slope of the site, and is covered by an

earth sheltered grass roof. The grassed roof provides the setting link to the art gallery, and extends the grounds and the park and the

gallery. A prominent sculpture has been place at a pivotal junction between the library and the art gallery to unite the creative,

cultural and recreation precinct created.

To the east, the library opens to a sunken internal courtyard, edged by a large stonewall, providing much needed cooling in the

summer from the stone mass and shading.

To the north the eastern pavilion sours out of the ground, with a beacon lantern positioned at the junction between the two pavilions.

The lantern beings in southern diffused daylight into the library, and provides high internal cathedral space where community

lounge, café, and reading areas are located. The form of the lantern has been designed with prominent angled elements, continuing

the sculptural form and connection to the site. (Brewster)

Yepoon Library, Yepoon, QLD - Australia 2009 -

Physical Size: 1.750 m², Cost: $ 6.500.000, Completed: Stage 1 2009

New Central Library of 1750 m2 located in the town's central park. The Library incorporates an active lending collection based on a

bookstore principle with an internal/external café. The building is designed to be occupied in stages over the next 10 years

Rockhampton Library, Rockhampton, QLD - Australia 2009

Client: Rockhampton Regional Council.

New Regional library of approx 2,500m2 incorporating a café, exhibition area, large auditorium youth library, and business services

centre. The new building links to the heritage school of arts building which is to be upgraded as Council offices and to the existing

library building, which will be returned as stack. Together with our Graphic Design Team, BHA developed a river theme,

incorporating Rockhampton's high flood mark by hanging bright red buoys at the water level and the quintessential "river tinny"

from the roof. In keeping with the local theme, a feature of the library is the "faces" wall, which incorporated images of significant

writers who originate from the region. (There have been quite a few well-known names!) The wall creates a historical feature, one

that the region is very proud to share. (Brewster) Ingleburn Library, Ingleburn (Sydney), NSW - Australia 2008 Physical Size: 2,150 m², Ccost/Budget: $ 9.500.000, Client: Campbelltown City Council.

The new Library and Community Centre for the Campbelltown Council incorporates the heritage School of Arts Building, which is

to become the central Gallery Foyer. A flexible auditorium to seat up to 300 people as well as a number of smaller activity rooms

located off the central gallery. Designed with a line which bends smoothly over the roof and the curved walls. This curved geometry

extends into the landscaping. The internal trees extend into the exterior parkland to carry the indoor/ outdoor theme. Both the

Library and Community Centre are arranged to address the existing community parkland that is to include a complex child's

playground, formal park and amphitheatre. The facility is designed as a 4.5 ABGR facility with complex energy systems including a

4

night purge system, solar hot water collector, high performance glazing and a displacement air-conditioning system which allows the

cool air to be introduced through the floor grills. All of which create an efficient and peaceful environment for users. (Brewster)

Concord Library Centre, Concord (Strathfield, Sydney), NSW - Australia 2008 Physical Size: 2,300 m², Client: Canada Bay City Council.

The new library is set to become a new standard of excellence in community facilities. The building's striking design is born from its

strong environmental focus with its prominent glass thermal chimneys and gently spinning stainless steel cowls glistening in the sun.

The new Library is arranged on 2 levels facing over playground and parkland, looking towards the river and bays. It includes an

internal café, community meeting rooms, youth area and business facilities. The internal graphics are strong and intended to work

with the building layout to produce an inspiring open light filled environment. The large thermal chimneys work as passive solar

powered engines to quietly draw fresh air through the building. Outside air is taken in by the large blue swan necked ducts

positioned in the landscape and their drawn through the underground labyrinth where the air is naturally cooled and then gently

vented into the public space through floor ducts. (Brewster) University of Western Sydney, Campus Campell Library, Campelltown City (Sydney), VIC - Australia 2008
cost: $ 8.500.000, completed: June 2008

Major Adaptive Re-use and upgrades to the original Phillip Cox Campus Library building including a complete internal redesign.

The original building included exposed off form concrete waffle slabs with a complex triangular pattern. (Brewster)

University of Western Sydney, Campus Bankstown Library, Bankstown, NSW -Australia 2007 The Bankstown campus is situated in the suburb of Milperra in the Bankstown Local Government Area.

Costs: $ 4.500.000

Major upgrade of the Bankstown Campus library and student services area carried out while the facility remained operational

(Brewster)

In late November 2006, work commenced on refurbishing the Campbelltown library - in part to accommodate the new medical

collection and support the Medical School. Library staff were temporarily relocated to an adjacent area to ensure continuity of

services and to enable builders to create a state of the art library. Due to the goodwill of staff and building contractors, library

services were available throughout the refurbishment and the building was completed in time for the commencement of Autumn

Semester. Brewster Hjorth Architects, the successful tending architectural design company, worked closely with a Library and

Capital Works & Facilities project team to plan the client and technology focused refurbishment. Wallisend Library, Newcastle-Wallisend, NSW - Australia 2006 Size: 1.750 m², Costs: $ 7.500.000, completed: February 2007

Awards:

RAIA Hunter Design Awards 2006: ESD, Civic Design & Major Design Award.

The new Wallsend District Library building is designed to act as a seed or focus for the growth of a sustainable community for

Wallsend. It provides exhibition, meeting, library and childcare facilities and links them to the neighbouring Wallsend Plaza

Shopping Centre across the street. Since the new Library opened in May 2006 the building has created a large amount of public and

industry interest. It also won all major awards for Design, Excellence, Civic Design and Sustainable Design at the Hunter Civic

Design Awards for 2006.

The design was evolved to create an open, light and light filled internal space, that provided a range of exciting locations for various

facilities, and uses, that could be accessed individually as separate addresses within a single simple structure. The form of the

building is created from two curved pavillions that are linked by a central linear atrium. The curves of the building flow from its

curved sheet frontage Each pavillion has a 'skillion roof' sloping down towards two large 1.5m high 'v shaped' curved steel box

gutters that define the central linear spine of the building.

The building's site runs north/south along the curved sheet frontage; the Wallsend Plaza located behind a large open carpark

occupies the opposite frontage. A central walkway 'spears out' from the retail centre towards the new Library. To the north, south

and behind the site to the west lie a range of single storey residential scale cottages and a stormwater floor line bisects the site.

The sites flood level required a floor level that was elevated about 1.5m above the ground, this was used to create a large podium for

the building with a larger curved flight of steps running almost the full frontage of the building. The podium continues the level of

surrounding residential boundary fences forming a base above which rises the high glazed façade of the building to create a form

with a more civic scale responding to the intersection of the curved street with the new pedestrian cross axis.

The line of the Plaza's walkway was continued as a cross axis over the road with a new pedestrian crossing and then as the line of the

buildings entry.

The intersection of this axis and the central atrium positioned the main public service desk and defined a quadrant of the building,

which became the exhibition and meeting rooms. (Brewster) Swansea Library, Swansea (Lake Macquarie), NSW - Australia 2006 Physical Size: 800 m2 (Library), Cost: $ 5.600.000, Client: Lake Macquarie Council.

The project provides a home for a range of public facilities over 2 levels. The library on the upper floor sits under the saw-toothed

roof and overlooks the 50m long foyer to the community rooms below. Reading areas are located in pod-like balconies suspended

over the void. The 4 large meeting rooms are arranged under the library, they can be combined in different ways to suit various uses.

They are accessed either from the long foyer or from the large landscaped court running along the western façade. The linear

building with long eastern and western 2 storey glass louvre facades is designed to maximise its access to the prevailing north-eastern

cooling winds to reduce and eliminate requirements for air conditioning. The saw-toothed form of the building is inspired by the

rows of lakeside boat-sheds of the old village, their scale has been enlarged to be viewed at 80km/hour. The curved timber screens

along the east and western façade recall the sails on the lake and the waves along the beach. The building is constructed of raw

materials; off-form concrete, exposed steel structure, corrugated iron cladding and bleached timber screens with panels of unedged

plywood lining to continue the boatshed analogy. (Brewster) 5 Mona Vale Civic Centre, Sydney-Mona Vale, NSW - Australia 2005

Size: 1.700 m², Costs: $ 7.200.000 m²

The common conception of libraries is that of warm, cosy and quiet nooks where readers can sit undisturbed for hours on end,

engaged not in the activities of this world, but in those which unfold in the pages before them. With the new Mona Vale Civic Centre

and Town Library, however, Brewster Hjorth Architects were required to negotiate this concept with a very different one, for the

Centre was to serve as the heart of the community, a place of interaction and involvement, not isolation.

Not just a library, the centre is also the new home for Pittwater Council- a refurbished and refitted space for the Council Customer

Service Centre, Meeting Room, and Offices for Planning and Compliance officers. Accompanying the refurbishment of the existing

buildings came the birth of a number of refreshingly new spaces. The library, an outdoor café, a parkland amphitheatre, an early

childhood centre and an integrated pedestrian path linking the two halves of the village have all provided a refreshed civic focus for

the Mona Vale Village, in keeping with the aim of its inception.

The adjacent parkland played an integral role in determining the form and structure of the library, which was to be constructed

below it- an underground, earth-sheltered structure. It was conceived as two opposing curved pavilions, arranged around and linked

by a central sunken garden between the two halves of the building. The opening to this void is surrounded by a garden of 'dune'

grasses on the plaza level, which defines the customer access as well as enclosing and containing the café. The curves of the two

pavilions create the amphitheatre on the eastern side addressing the park and the curved line walkway on the western side, thus

providing light and outlook as well as an external reading area for library users. This latter function was a direct response to the

client's brief.

The relationship between the site and its context that proved so influential on its form and structure also had non-material

implications. It actually worked to define and refine its intended function. Because of its relationship to the park, the council desired

maximum use of the outdoor public space, to make it the metaphorical as well as actual civic "centre".

To this end, Brewster Hjorth blurred the distinction between inside and outside by large glass windows that accompany the reading

and studying areas. These intimate internal spaces enjoy an external outlook and are brilliantly lit by natural light from the

quotesdbs_dbs46.pdfusesText_46

[PDF] La séparation des Eglises et de l'Etat (1905)

[PDF] La séparation entre l'Eglise et l'Etat en France

[PDF] la Série statistique

[PDF] La sérine - besoin d'aide pour comprendre qqchose

[PDF] la seropositivité d'enfants nés de mère infectée par le VIH (2eme graph)

[PDF] la servante au grand coeur baudelaire commentaire composé

[PDF] la servante au grand coeur commentaire

[PDF] La sexualitié au moyen age

[PDF] la shoah + production

[PDF] la signification de rapport calculés entre les base de l'ADN

[PDF] la sim société immobilier/ société d'économie mixte (SEM)

[PDF] La SISMOTHERAPIE ET LA DEFIBRILLATION

[PDF] la situation alimentaire au brésil

[PDF] la situation d énonciation 4ème

[PDF] la situation dénonciation exercices pdf