Library Buildings around the World

activities for the students of the University. Therefore, the Library performs as an attractor, not only for the users of the
park, but also for the 3,300 researches; becoming a new Centre for the University and the City of Seville. Has been parallized
due to burocratic problems after several months of construction.
Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku – Azerbaijan 2012
101.801 m², Building 52.417 m², Site 111.292 m²
Emerging from the surrounding landscape, this most fluid of structures provides a major new venue, landmark and souce of
regeneration for the city of Baku – admitting visitors to a library, museum and conference centre through folds in its
continuous outer skin, the interior spaces flooded with natural light via a glass façade. (Hadid)
Wirtschaftsuniversität – Library and Learning Center, Wien – Austria 2012
Currently under construction, Zaha Hadid’s dramatic design for a new Library and Learning Centre rises as a polygonal
block from the centre of a new campus (masterplan by BUSarchitecture) at the University of Economic & Business, Vienna.
Employing both inclined and straight edges, the structure takes the form of a cube whose sweeping lines separate as they
move inwards. These edges become curvilinear and fluid to create a free-formed internal public plaza at the centre of the
complex. Additional facilities are contained within a single volume which divides and then intertwines to enclose this glazed
gathering space. At 28,000 sq m the new centre is generous in size and will comprise of a ‘Learning Centre’ with workplaces,
lounges and cloakrooms, library, a language laboratory, training classrooms, administration offices, study services and
central supporting services, copy shop, book shop, data center, cafeteria, event area, clubroom and auditorium. Initiated
through a two-phase competition in 2008 the project is slated for completion in 2012. Zaha Hadid commented: “I am
delighted to be working in Vienna as I have a close affiliation with the city. As a centre of research, the Library and Learning
Centre is forum for the exchange of ideas. It is very exciting for us to be part of the University’s expansion.”
(http://www.wordlarchitecturenews.com)
Hampshire County Council Architects, Winchester, Hampshire – UK
http://www3.hants.gov.uk search: selected projects
Libraries:
Basingstoke Discovery Center – UK 2010
Client: Hampshire County Council , Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and Citizens Advice Bureau, Value: £ 805,000
Completed: November 2010, Specialist teams: Accessibility Design, Basingstoke
Basingstoke library is one of Hampshire’s busiest libraries and is situated on the first floor of the Festival Place shopping complex in
the centre of Basingstoke. In 2010 the main library was transformed into Hampshire’s third Discovery Centre. The completed
project has been well received and supported by the local community. The vibrancy of the design with its new colour schemes and
attractive, functional signage has improved surface contrast and way-finding for visitors. Accessibility has been improved by
remodelling the ground floor entrance and creating a new staircase route to first floor. The lift car has been replaced and can now
accommodate larger wheelchairs and be used for evacuating disabled persons in the event of a fire. Key items of fixed furniture and
IT equipment have been replaced e.g.: the help desk and self service check in/out system, making these wheelchair accessible.
Induction loop systems have been installed to the reception desk and meeting rooms and a new accessible toilet has been installed
where there was previously none. Most exciting has been the inclusion of including Hampshire’s first Changing Place, a specialised
facility for people with profound and multiple learning and physical difficulties. As a consequence, users can now prolong their
visitor experience to both the Discovery Centre and Festival Place as they no longer have to cut short their trip to town if they are
inconvenienced. These access improvements have enabled a number of services to be delivered, including sensory clinics for people
with sight or hearing impairment, tailored learning programmes for adults with learning difficulties and a base for adult services to
run support groups from. (Hampshire)
Winchester Discovery Center, Winchester – UK 2007
Client: Hampshire County Council, Value: £7.25 million, Completed: November 2007, Specialist teams: Architects and QS:
HCC Property Services, Structural & Civil Engineer: Gifford, Mechanical & Electrical Engineers: White Young Green
Lighting Designer: DPA Lighting, Textile Artist: Alice Kettle, Graphic Artist: Peagreen, Contractor: Mansell Construction Services
Ltd.
Awards:
RIBA Award
Winchester Discovery Centre is the flagship project for Hampshire County Council’s library rejuvenation scheme. The project
restored and extended a Grade II* Corn Exchange to provide a library, gallery, performance hall and café. The design needed to
widen the appeal of a library, encouraging members of the community who would not normally visit and enabling a range of cultural
activities and performances to suit all tastes. This forward-looking vision needed to be accommodated without diminishing the listed
building’s heritage. The original layout was incorporated into the new design but with contemporary elements. For example, a new
mezzanine floor follows the line of the original circular courtyard centrepiece. The new performance hall and art gallery are to the
rear of the development, so they do not dominate the listed building. A new stone and glass wing containing library space and a café
forms one side of the building. The rear wall of the new wing, covered by a vast embroidery by Alice Kettle, is top lit to help increase
the transparency of the front façade. The Discovery Centre is now used by a much more diverse cross-section of the local population
as it plays host to exhibitions, dance classes, comedy nights, conferences as well as the traditional uses of a library. The café offers a
relaxed and informal atmosphere for the building users and the new glass fronted extension gives an more open and inviting view of
the Discovery Centre to passers by – it has become a new public place for Winchester. (Hampshire)
Alton Discovery Centre, Alton – UK 2004
Client: Hampshire County Council, Value: £1.3 million, Completed: September 2004, Specialist teams: Architect and Interior
Design: HCC Property Services, QS: Grant Associates, Structural: RJ Watkinson Associates, M&E: HCC Property Services
Acoustician: Arup Acoustics, Contractor: Richardsons (Nyewood)Ltd.
Awards:
RIBA Awards 2005
The new Discovery Centre in Alton serves a population of more than 40,000 people. The previous library was run from a redundant
civil defence building on a large site in the town centre. The site was divided, with half earmarked for housing, and the remaining
half for the new library. This was a strategy that enabled the proceeds of the land sale to part finance the new library, which was to
become a Discovery Centre with a wide range of cultural facilities. Given the limited size of the site, a steel frame was considered the
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