Library Buildings around the World

Malaysia
T. R. Hamzah & Yeang International, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
http://www.trhamzahyeang.com
Libraries:
National Library Singapore – Singapore 2004
Areas: Total gross area (GFA): 51,493 sq.m., Total gross area (GFA incl. parking): 55,565 sq.m., Total nett area (Net assignable
area): 30,797 sq.m., Total construction floor area(CFA) 70,686 sq.m., GFA plot ratio : 1:5:2
No. of Storeys: 15 storeys (98 m high) and 3 basements, Client: National Library Board
Development Brief:
The Client, The National Library Board (NLB) has earlier established a set of planning principles as the basis for design. These
include: • A place for the people to provide an open, hospitable and conducive learning environment for the people of Singapore.
• A National and Civic Institution with a distinct character, reflecting Singapore’s multicultural heritage and its aspirations to be a
leaning nation. • A National and Civic Institution. • A symbol of NLB’s mission and role. • A fully flexible and functional clear
building. • A costs effective building. • User friendly, comprehensible to visitors and convenient for everyday staff use. • An efficient
building with integrated systems. • A building for the tropical climate.
General Design Features:
Our design intention is to provide the NLB with a state-of-the-art library design and an innovative library in the tropics that serves
as an icon for the region and locality. It is to be a facility that meets the NLB’s requirements and objectives, including being a
cultural facility and a unique and enjoyable civic place for Singapore.
• Planning
The NLB building builtform consists of two blocks that are separated by a day-lit internal street and connected by bridges at the
upper levels. The larger block contains the collections and sits over an open-to-the-sky naturally ventilated civic plaza, with promises
of ‘outdoor’ events and cafés.
• Builtform
The blocks are a juxtaposition of formality and asymmetry – The curved, smaller block contains the noisier, public activities
(exhibition, auditorium, multi-media) that will sit alongside a larger, rectilinear block that houses the library collections. The
division of the brief into two halves generates spatial differentiation of what’s inside outside and on the other side. It presents the
library culture as being more fun, that the building can become an urban motivator for civic activities, that a library becoming a
“place for the people”.
• Aesthetics
The elevations of the building design is an assemblage of sunshading blades (9 m deep at some locations) devices that boldly define
the aesthetics for the building besides having daylight shading and anti-glare performance that in totality gives the image of a
contemporary climatic-responsive [in this instance tropical] built form.
• Urban Design (Plaza)
The internal street serves as a link between two prominent streets (ie. Victoria Street and North Bridge Road). At the heart of the
scheme the Public Events Plaza, a communal space that becomes the main focal point of the site and subsequently leading one into
the main foyer and library proper. This public space is further animated with Café’s, a library shop and possible retail areas. The
axis of the street also exemplifies the St. Joseph church across the street by means of framing the view towards the church from the
street. Over 6,300 m2 is designated a ‘green space’ through out the library that creates urban “Skycourts” providing a positive
psychological effect on building users and improving general working environments.
Ecological Design Features • Low Energy Design Modes
The Passive design modes strategies used are : daylighting (where possible), good solar orientation and configuration, sunshading,
natural ventilation, façade design, building colour and landscaping. These are assembled together into a collective strategy for low
energy and high comfort. Most of the library workspaces and collection areas will operate in the Active mode (full air-conditioning
and artificial light). A clear acknowledgment is made that comfort is as much a question of lifestyle and perception as it is about cost
and energy. Into this blend of the Active and Passive, a third strategy Mixed Mode is adopted, where natural ventilation is
supplemented by mechanical means such as fans, in central transition spaces (lobbies, foyers, courtyard). These are supported by
airflow and energy simulations, along with predictions of comfort.
• Energy Embodiment Analysis of the Building
Significant attention has been paid to the key factors in lowering energy embodiment and lowering environmental impact in the
building as compared to the typical office building type. The environmental impact of the National Library Building is lower as
compared to a typical office building which is a very positive outcome. The fact that the specs within the library are generally of a
greater volume compared to typical conditions is also encouraging. The total energy embodiment was calculated to be 17 GJ/m2
which is within accepted benchmarks for commercial buildings [ie. between 10 – 18 GJ/m2]
• Green Materials & Specifications
Our design approach also involves the holistic consideration of the careful selection of materials used in the designed system and the
endeavor by design to reduce the impacts of this use on (and its integration with) the natural environment, over the life-cycle of the
designed system. The intended use of recycled and reused materials generally such as the carpet wall fabrics and sustainable-forested
local timber will reduce impact considerably.
• Building Performance & Buildability
By virtue of the simulation conducted on the energy consumption, the National Library Building consumes around 185
KWH/m2/annum, which is far more efficient than a typical commercial office tower (210 KWH/m2/annum) in Singapore.
Daylighting, sunshading and wind tunnel test (including natural ventilation) studies were also conducted, providing the basis for the
façade design and specifications. (Hamzah) see also: http://www.nl.sg
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