Library Buildings around the World

6◦ see: Six Degrees
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.
(http://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/slvhistory)
$ 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. ….
(http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option?=showaward&entryno=20053135)
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