Who designed the new library in Birmingham?
Francine Houben
Library of Birmingham/Architects
Where is the new Birmingham library?
It is situated on the west side of the city centre at Centenary Square, beside the Birmingham Rep (to which it connects, and with which it shares some facilities) and Baskerville House. Upon opening on 3 September 2013, it replaced Birmingham Central Library.
Who was the architect for the library in Birmingham?
Inspiration behind the Library of Birmingham design Architect Francine Houben, Mecanoo’s Founding Partner, describes her design for the Library of Birmingham as the ‘People’s Palace’ and says her design was ‘inspired by the energy of this great city.
What makes the Library of Birmingham a landmark building?
It is an iconic space that celebrates books and can also be used for different kinds of events. Via escalators and travelators visitors can make their own journey through the Book Rotunda and the building.
Where is the largest library in Europe?
The Library of Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham, in the West Midlands, is Europe’s largest library, housing a world-class collection of rare books, archives and photography. Treasures include one of the largest Shakespeare collections in the world and the famous Shakespeare Memorial Room, dating from the Victorian era.
Why was Birmingham library built?
Designed by architect John Madin in the brutalist style, the library was part of an ambitious development project by Birmingham City Council to create a civic centre on its new Inner Ring Road system; however, for economic reasons significant parts of the master plan were not completed, and quality was reduced on …
What is the Library of Birmingham made of?
In the library the main materials and colours are natural stone, white ceramic flooring, oak, Mecanoo Blue, gold, glass and metal, as well as fleeting circles and shadows. In the Repertory Theatre the main materials and colours are concrete, white and red.
Where is the biggest library in UK?
The British Library, London
The British Library, London Not only that, but it is the largest national library in the world by number of items catalogued- the collection includes over 150 million items with 3 million more added yearly.
When was Birmingham Central library demolished?
2016
For a time the largest non-national library in Europe, it closed on 29 June 2013 and was replaced by the Library of Birmingham. The building was demolished in 2016, after 41 years, as part of the redevelopment of Paradise Circus by Argent Group….
| Birmingham Central Library | |
|---|---|
| Main contractor | Sir Robert McAlpine |
What is the Library of Birmingham?
The Library of Birmingham is a flagship project of the Birmingham City Council’s 20 year Big City Plan, focusing on the regeneration of the city. For that reason architect Francine Houben has designed the Library of Birmingham to be a ‘People’s Palace’. At 31,000 sqm it will be the largest public library in Europe.
Who are the architects of the Library of Birmingham?
Designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo, the Library of Birmingham will transform the city’s library service and become a major cultural destination. The Library of Birmingham is a flagship project of the Birmingham City Council’s 20 year Big City Plan, focusing on the regeneration of the city.
Is the Library of Birmingham BREEAM rated?
The Library of Birmingham is a BREEAM excellent rated building and incorporates grey water systems and ground source heat pumps. Although the Library is a transparent building, it maintains energy efficiency through the buffering capacity of the building mass and the atria.
What is the Library of Birmingham doing in Centenary Square?
Playing an important role in Birmingham’s Centenary Square, the new Library of Birmingham is an impressive and bold addition to the city. It has set a precedent for the scale of the buildings on the square, which helps to animate the place and stipulate a sense of enclosure.