EcoPlan Studio take architectural and eco-landscape study of Public Library building in Victoria state and around Australia.

City and Library

Prof. Rob Adams AM, the Director City Design and Projects Melbourne has good presentation and reflection about "Places for People - City and Library". This presentation includes development process and photos from some remarkable architectural library building in Victoria state.

Public library as community center

In Australia, libraries are not only physical facilities and places to borrow material. Libraries are the most important community hubs and places where people can meet for recreation, information and to foster a love of lifelong learning. These include innovative facilities and services, performance spaces, games rooms, maker spaces, open space such as garden and educational facilities.

Architectural historian Philip Goad in the Encyclopaedia of Australian Architecture’s entry on ‘Public Libraries’ draws our attention to the ongoing relevance of the public library in the Australian community. He writes of it as ‘a vital civic focus to local communities, combining complementary functions in addition to the sharing of knowledge, both old and new’ (Goad & Willis, 2012). Judges called it a “democratic meeting place, open to diversity and interaction”.

2015-2016 facts: Australia had 1,656 public library service points (1,408 branches, 78 mobiles library and 170 other outlets). Total population of Australian is 24,8 million people and number of library visitors (physical) are 113,139,641.

(Source www.nsla.org.au)

Highlight Library Architectural Design

(1) Mortlock Chamber Library, Adeleide. South Australia (2) State Library of Victoria, Melbourne (3) Surry Hills Library, Sydney. NSW (4) State Library of New South Wales (5) Library at The Dock, Melbourne. Victoria (6) Edith Cowan Library, Perth. Western Australia (7) Queensland State Library, Brisbane. (8) Local Branch: Balwyn Library, Melbourne. Vic (9) Local Branch: Kathleen Syme Library, Melbourne. Vic (10) Local Branch: East Melbourne Library, Melbourne. Vic

[05] DOCKLANDS LIBRARY/LIBRARY AT THE DOCK | Floor plan and architectural design | Interior of Library | Photos detail

Library at The Dock is a council library and was delivered by the City of Melbourne, Lend Lease and Places Victoria. At three storeys, 55.3 metres long and 18.1 metres wide, and made from engineered timber and reclaimed hardwood, Library at The Dock is Australia’s first 6 star Green Star rated public building, as awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia. It’s also won several other sustainable design and architecture awards since opening.

[08] BALWYN LIBRARY | Concept, Interior and Eksterior photos

The original library was built in 1978 and was designed by Daryl Jackson, a significant Melbourne architectural practice. In early 2018 as council response to community need for lifelong learning, the redevelopment will be more casual reading and study areas as well as a new, quiet study area, separate from the rest of the library and a larger community meeting room will be accessible after hours.

[09] KATHLEEN SYME LIBRARY | Concept design and floor plan

Carlton suburb has one of the best inner city libraries in Melbourne – the Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre. A $15.5 million restoration has transformed the 139-year-old Kathleen Syme building into a creative, learning and community space. As the library is new the children’s area is spacious, with lots of shiny new titles plus toys and puzzles. We also regularly drop into the cute social enterprise Wild Timor cafe adjoining the library.

[11] BUNJIL PLACE LIBRARY | Bunjil Place Library architectural photos

This massive, architecturally stunning three-storey library features a whole ground floor dedicated to children. There’s a huge collection of picture books and chapter books as well as cosy reading nooks set into the walls, bean bags and dress up and games to play. Bunjil Library has ton of space features, such as Reading amphitheatre, Digital games area, Community Art Space, Peaceful outdoor reading garden, Public computer zones, Dedicated children’s area, Quiet study nooks and Self service kiosk. Adress of the library is at Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren VIC 3805, Australia.

[12] St KILDA LIBRARY | Brutalist architecture

Dr. Enrico Taglietti was the master of Brutalist architecture in Australia and one of his bolder examples of the style is in the St. Kilda municipal library. This brutalist building won two Royal Australian Institute of Architects awards in 1995, commended for both its architecture and interior architecture. The facade facing the Town Hall plaza is a stone book and the pages of the book are penetrated by an S-profiled window. In the children’s section where the bookshelves are child-sized versions and low colourful lights are hung from the ceiling.

[13] NORTH FITZROY LIBRARY | Architectural perspective

North Fitzroy Library (Bargoonga Nganjin means ‘Gather Everybody’ in Woiwurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri people) is located at 182 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy. North Fitzroy Library offers a range of programs and services to stimulate lifelong learning and creativity for adults, young people and children alike. These include digital literacy programs, regular children’s storytime sessions, creative programs and events, including author talks, panel discussions, films and music performances as well as events in community languages.The library has a range of flexible learning spaces, which can be used for quiet study or group discussions.

A variety of environmentally sustainable design features see Bargoonga Nganjin achieve a six star Green Star rating – the highest environmental rating awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia. Some of these features include: (a) Solar panels on the roof providing up to 12.5 kilowatts of power. (b) Facades to reduce heating from sunlight. (c) Collection of rainwater for reuse throughout the building, provided through water storage tanks in the basement. (d) An automatic irrigation system for rooftop garden plants, with moisture sensors, to minimise water usage. (e) Energy efficient fixtures and fittings.