AD Round Up: Libraries Part III

Studies have shown that if you like the environment and design of a library, you will spend more time in it, studying, reading and learning. Check out our third selection (first one here / second one here) of previously featured libraries in ArchDaily. All of them after the break!

National Library / KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten
KSP Engel und Zimmermann recently designed a 77,000 square meter library extension to accommodate the existing National Library of Beijing. The new addition will hold approximately 12 million books and be used by an estimated 12,000 people per day (read more…)

National Tecnical Library in Prague / Projektil Architekti
The idea of the new technical library is quite old and started in the 90’s. The architectural competition took place in 2000. The investor is the ministry of education on behalf of the State technical library. Our design got 1st prize among approximately 50 proposals. There wasn’t any second prize and, instead there were three third prizes (read more…)

Safe Haven Library / TYIN Tegnestue
In January 2009 TYIN invited 15 norwegian architect students from NTNU to participate in a workshop at the Safe Haven Orphanage. The workshop was led by Associate Professor Hans Skotte and architect Sami Rintala. The most immediate needs at the orphanage was a library and a new sanitary building (read more…)

A.& M. Miskiniai Public Library / 4 Plius Architects
The idea behind this project was simple and symbolic at the same time: books, the essence of knowledge, communication and cultural tradition. As the function of a public library requires, it is open to everyone – and that is why the shape of a transparent cube, a shining body at night has been chosen (read more…)

National Library in Astana, Kazakhstan / BIG
BIG was recently awarded with the first prize on an open international design competition for Kazakhstan’s new National Library in Astana. The new building has an area of 33.000 sqm, arranged as a continuous circulation on a Möbius Strip, as the result of 2 interlocking structures: the perfect circle and the public spiral (read more…)