Library Buildings around the World

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 leisuretime
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