Table Of ContentLibraries – A Design Manual
A DESIGN MANUAL
Libraries
Nolan Lushington
Wolfgang Rudorf
Liliane Wong
CONTRIBUTIONS BY
Norma Blake
Mohamed Boubekri
Rebecca Chestnutt
Michael Franke-Maier
Ursula Kleefisch-Jobst
Karl-Heinz Schmitz
Frank Seeliger
Aat Vos
Klaus Ulrich Werner
Birkhäuser
Basel
Note to North American readers
The plan terminology in this book follows the
European convention throughout. Hence the street
and access level of a building is referred to as
ground floor. The next level (second floor in North
American usage) is called first floor and so on for
all following stories. All dimensions are metric except
where U.S. standards are made reference to.
In those cases the imperial measurements are given
in parentheses.
Layout and cover design:
Reinhard Steger, Christian Schärmer, Maria Martí Vigil
PROXI, Barcelona
Graphic concept “Design Manual” series:
Oliver Kleinschmidt, Berlin
Project texts: Wolfgang Rudorf (wr), Liliane Wong (lw)
Translation into English (pp. 22–37, 44–48, 62–67,
106–119): Julian Reisenberger, Weimar
Editor: Ria Stein, Berlin
Production: Katja Jaeger, Berlin
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Germany
Cover photograph: Stefan Müller, courtesy of
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PRINCIPLES OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING
9
Preface
The Building Type Planning Processes Technical Interior Design
and its Emergence and Spatial Requirements and Equipment
Organization
10 44 70 96
The Library Toward the Design Structural Concepts Refurbishment and
in its Social Context of Libraries Wolfgang Rudorf Building Adaptation
Liliane Wong with Rebecca Chestnutt Aat Vos
Nolan Lushington
80
49 Climate Control 102
16 Plan Configuration Wolfgang Rudorf Shelving
The Library User and Layout Wolfgang Rudorf
as Customer Liliane Wong Liliane Wong
Norma Blake
88
Lighting and Illumination
58 Wolfgang Rudorf 106
22 Library Spaces for Orientation and
On the Typology Children, Teens Wayfinding Systems
of the Library and Young Adults Michael Franke-Maier
Ursula Kleefisch-Jobst Liliane Wong with 90
Nolan Lushington Daylighting
Mohamed Boubekri
114
30 Book Security and RFID
Form and Function 62 Frank Seeliger
in Library Design Dialogues: Client,
Karl-Heinz Schmitz Librarian, Architect
Klaus Ulrich Werner
38
Public Libraries 68
in the United States Funding Options
Nolan Lushington Liliane Wong
SELECTION OF PROJECTS
National Large Public Small Public
Libraries Libraries Libraries
120 144 172
Introduction Introduction Introduction
122 146 174 192
Det Kongelige Bibliotek Burton Barr Central Library Peckham Library Biblioteca Municipal
Copenhagen, Denmark Phoenix, Arizona, USA and Media Centre Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Will Bruder London, UK Álvaro Siza
Alsop + Störmer Architects
126 150 194
National Library Singapore Millennium Library 178 Parque Biblioteca España
Singapore Norwich, UK Biblioteca Pública Usera Medellín, Colombia
T. R. Hamzah & Yeang Michael Hopkins Architects José Hierro Giancarlo Mazzanti
International Madrid, Spain
Ábalos & Herreros
198
154 Médiathèque André Malraux
130 Seattle Central Library Strasbourg, France
Biblioteca Central Estatal Seattle, Washington, USA 182 Jean Marc Ibos, Myrto Vitart
de Guanajuato Wigberto OMA ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan
Jiménez Moreno Martin Center
León, Mexico Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Pei Partnership Architects Holzman Moss Bottino 202
158 Vennesla Bibliotek
OBA – Openbare og Kulturhus
Bibliotheek Amsterdam Vennesla, Norway
134 Amsterdam, the Netherlands 184 Helen & Hard
National Library of China Jo Coenen Whitechapel Idea Store
Beijing, China London, UK
KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten Adjaye Associates
206
164 Biblioteca Municipal
Stadtbibliothek de Almada
140 am Mailänder Platz 188 Almada, Portugal
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Stuttgart, Germany Miriam Matthews Hyde Park Santa-Rita Arquitectos
Leipzig, Germany Eun Young Yi Branch Library
Gabriele Glöckler Architektur Los Angeles, California, USA
HplusF Architecture and Design
208
166 Biblioteca Pública de Ceuta
Library of Birmingham Ceuta, Spain
Birmingham, UK 190 Paredes Pedrosa Arquitectos
Mecanoo Arabian Public Library
Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Richärd + Bauer
212
Gando School Library
Gando, Burkina Faso
Diebedo Francis Kéré
University Appendix
Libraries
214
Introduction
216 238 256
Central Library Rolex Learning Center The Authors
Technische Universiteit Delft Ecole Polytechnique
Delft, the Netherlands Fédérale de Lausanne 258
Mecanoo Lausanne, Switzerland Index of Names
SANAA
259
Index of Places
220
Law Library 244 262
Universität Zürich Joe and Rika Illustration Credits
Zurich, Switzerland Mansueto Library
Santiago Calatrava University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Helmut Murphy Jahn
222
IKMZ – Informations-,
Kommunikations- 248
und Medienzentrum Kai Feng
Brandenburgische Humanities and Social
Technische Universität Sciences Library
Cottbus, Germany Tsinghua University
Herzog & de Meuron Beijing, China
Mario Botta
226
Philological Library 252
Freie Universität CINiBA – Centrum
Berlin, Germany Informacji Naukowej
Foster + Partners i Biblioteka Akademicka
Uniwersytet S’la˛ski
Katowice, Poland
HS99
230
Lewis Library
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Gehry Partners
232
Jacob-und-Wilhelm-
Grimm-Zentrum
Humboldt Universität
Berlin, Germany
Max Dudler
Wolfgang Rudorf
Preface
Liliane Wong
The library as a building typology has a history spanning millennia in time. The lengthy
history chronicling its development was irrevocably altered in the late 1990s with the
advent of digital technology. The introduction of digitized material and the birth of
a new type of book redefined the field, casting doubts on the future of the book
as an object of paper and ink, and with it the relevance of the library as a space
of collections and readers.
Digitized material has not replaced the physical collection, rather it has been a ssimilated
into the institution as another salient component of a greater structure. Instead,
the typology of the library has been expanded upon to provide new experiences
within the library, broadening its provision of knowledge. From retail, entertainment
and the arts to healthcare and secondary education, new programs are incorporated
into the library to better serve, maintain and attract existing and new patrons.
These programs, determined in the most part by geography and the socio-eco-
nomic needs of the communities, form a unique development in the library typology.
A pluralistic type emerges as evidenced by the development in the name “library”.
Around the world this appellation has been augmented and even replaced by new
titles such as learning center, information center, media center, learning commons,
mediatheque, culture house, community center and “idea” store. With this flowering
of the library as an institution of new and diverse experience the library has retained
its relevance in society and secured its own future.
A publication of this type in the second decade of the 21st century on the subject of
libraries demonstrates the strength of both the institution and the bond between
the book and society. That is not to say that digitized content has not had an enor-
mous impact on society. The gradual disappearance of bookstores is evidence of its
far-reaching effect. Rather, it is a testament to a Darwinian will toward survival and
adaptation that has enabled the library as an institution to redefine itself in the
terms of a digitized world.
This book comprises international case studies from the late 1990s to the present.
The selection of these case studies was extremely difficult as well-designed and beau-
tifully executed libraries were in abundance. The range is to demonstrate multi-direc-
tional strategies to stave off extinction, maintain and even strengthen this institution.
The conversation regarding these fascinating issues began in 1997 when we worked
on the refurbishment and addition of the Hartford Public Library. We became
acquainted with Louise Blalock, the Director of the library, and her husband, Nolan
Lushington. Both librarians, their knowledge of the workings of the library was vast
and forward thinking. In the design of Hartford we faced many of the same issues
confronting libraries in the late 20th century as discussed herein. Our chats were the
foundation of our collaboration here. The numerous discussions on what the future
might hold have, 18 years later, become reality. It is exciting to have witnessed this
moment in the history of the library and to document it in this volume. A single
regret is that Nolan, who passed away in 2013, will not be with us to open the book
in its completed form. We feel fortunate, however, to have shared in the making of
this work with such a knowledgeable, kind and gentle colleague.
We would like to thank, most of all, our editor Ria Stein for her belief in this project
and for her infinite patience, wisdom and guidance that made the realization of
this book possible. Special thanks to Patricia Lomando, our RISD graduate student
assistant, whose enthusiasm and organization were invaluable to the completion
of this book. We are also grateful to RISD student assistants Seo Yeon Ji and Chad
Echols, who shared in our early vision of this book. Finally, to Franzi, Hanna, and
Maria Rudorf and Clara Halston, our enormous appreciation for the contribution
of “smaller” hands.
Reading room at CINiBA – Centrum Informacji
Naukowej i Biblioteka Akademicka,
Uniwersytet S’la˛ski, Katowice, Poland Boston, October 2015
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