Everybody likes an award. Oscars, Turners, Pritzkers, Bookers, Emmys, Tonys, Baftas, Goftas, Tuis and Taites. The Guardian has just reported on one many of you were probably unaware of, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Library of the Year Award. The prize is not given for most books issued, most efficient overdues collection or best shushing technique, but is in fact an architecture award, hailing the best new public library building in the world.
This year’s winner is the rather gobsmacking new Beijing Library by Snøhetta and ECADI.
The citation calls it:
An impressive, spectacular, building, that presents a contemporary hub for learning, knowledge-sharing, social interaction, and community engagement. The interior follows this concept, integrating areas for conferences, exhibitions, performances, and the restoration of ancient books.
Jury Chair Jakob Guillois Lærkes explains the jury’s decision:
This year’s field of nominated libraries is particularly strong. From large and impressive prestige buildings to innovative and sustainable solutions as well as how to transform an existing library building to a completely new outcome. Beijing Library stands out as a vibrant and inviting book heaven with so many things to offer, as well as impressive sustainable solutions within the building. The jury were particularly impressed by how people, books and nature are connected throughout the design and programming of the building. It really stands out as a great example of a library for the future.
Nice.
What jumped out at me, though was the cost (and scale) quoted ruefully by the Guardian’s Australian writer, who was plainly backing another contender, the very elegant Yellamundie library in suburban Sydney.
The implication was that the little Aussie battler never stood a chance in the face of such unbridled spending power. And what was the cost of 75,000 square metres of brand-new, solar roofed, bibliophile heaven? According to the report it was “almost A$300 million”. So, around NZ$320 million.
Remind me again, what is the currently acknowledged cost for the repair and rebuild of the 14,000 square metre Wellington Public Library Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui?
To be fair, it is a lot tricker to retrofit earthquake strengthening, than it is to build from new.
Although they are DEFINITELY getting much more bang for their buck!
(They won’t have to take (too much) earthquake stresses into account for the Yellamundie on though.)
Have visited Bunjil Place Library in Melbourne though, and was suitably impressed. They certainly do good book houses!
I’m a little worried by the lack of actual books in the Chinese example. Not that I can read Chinese, but I am fairly sure that it is usually written down.
Good question Alan – presumably there is a plan for all those lovely timber terraces to be covered in books? But this seems rather haphazard – not sure if they use the Dewey decimal system, but the books would then all be at floor level, and make it hard to :
A) walk around and look for a book, and
B) bend down and search for the title etc?
Quite possibly it is simultaneously the best looking and most worst performing library of all time?
I tracked down the architects’ skite site about the project:
https://www.snohetta.com/projects/beijing-city-library
Looks like a lot of books. But I guess with all those square metres, you get spare space to play around with too.
Much as I really like Snohetta, I just looked at their website (thanks, Starkive), and it had the following quote:
“…the Beijing Library is envisioned as a new center for learning, culture, and community. The design emphasizes the book’s physicality and the act of page-turning as a primary experience within a picturesque setting of hills, trees, and the Tonghui river. With innovative responses to the historical essence of libraries, the building makes the open exchange of ideas and human dialogue its core purpose. Throughout, there are dedicated spaces for exhibitions, performances, conferences, and the restoration of ancient books. By fostering an emotional connection between books, people, and the natural landscape beyond, the building firmly rejects the argument of the library becoming a derelict typology with the numerous possibilities it creates.”
I mean, honestly, what a load of old wank. “the act of page-turning as a primary experience”. Excuse me? I thought that we left this sort of bullshit writing in the 90s where they belonged….?
While the Beijing Library looks a stunning space,
But In all honesty its like client was shown around FLW’s Johnson wax factory from 90 years ago , and they then told their architects, ” I want it like that but bigger and bolder”…..
Pale wooden terraced seats/ especially when aligned with a regular open stair is very much the “in thing” at the moment, – just google “bleacher stairs” – But I think they will date this place horribly, even if the roof lives on forever – as Lloyd Wright’s did ….
https://www.costar.com/article/522687346/bleacher-staircases-inside-offices-foster-camaraderie-but-does-anyone-want-to-sit-there