Library of Birmingham
Encyclopedia
The Library of Birmingham is a new library under construction in the city centre
of Birmingham
, England
. It is situated on the west side of the city centre at Centenary Square
beside the Birmingham Rep and Baskerville House
. It replaces the old Birmingham Central Library
and will provide pedestrian street access extending from Centenary Square to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The new library is near the present central library but the new library is just outside the City Centre Core
while the present library is just within the core. It is estimated the new library will cost £188.8 million and is seen by Birmingham City Council
as a flagship project for the Redevelopment of Birmingham. A model of the new library is on display on the ground floor of the present Central Library. The library will feature high towers with imposing views of Brimingham, there will be patio
s with railings designed artistically among other features.
Upon completion, it will be the biggest public library in the country.
district, which had been opened up to the city centre following the demolition of Masshouse Circus
. A library was designed by Richard Rogers
on a site in the area. However, for financial reasons and reservations about the location this plan was shelved. The Council had suggested that the Library be split between a new building built between the Rep theatre and Baskerville House
at Centenary Square
, which until 2009 was a public car park (to house the main lending library) and a building at Millennium Point in "Eastside" (to house the archives and special collections).
In August 2006, the Council confirmed the area between the Rep and Baskerville House as the future site for the library. Capita Symonds had been appointed as Project Managers for the Library of Birmingham. The council's intention was to create a "world class" landmark civic building in Centenary Square.
Not long after this, the two-sites idea was scrapped and the archives and special collections will move to the site at Centenary Square.
After an international design competition, run by the Royal Institute of British Architects
, a shortlist of seven architects was announced on 27 March 2008. They were chosen from a list of over 100 architects. The architects chosen were:
In early August 2008, Mecanoo was announced as the winner of the design competition.
More detailed plans for the library were revealed by the council in conjunction with the architects at a launch event held on 2 April 2009.
Andrew Motion
said that "These plans are properly ambitious to preserve the best traditional practice, while also opening the building to new ideas about what a library should be - the heart of the community, fulfilling all manner of social needs as well as scholarly, research-based and pleasurable ones." Philip Pullman
said "The new Library of Birmingham sounds as if it will be lovely and should attract even more users than the present one with its impressive visitor total of 5,000 a day." Sir Alan Ayckbourn
said "I wholeheartedly support the proposed exciting new plans to develop the new Birmingham library" and Irvine Welsh
said "[It's] an audacious and compelling initiative which promises to redefine and modernise the entire notion of public library services, and in the process create the greatest public information resource in Europe ... Writers will love it, and so will readers."
work between Baskerville House
and The Rep
had begun before planning permission had been granted. Planning permission was finally granted and approved by Birmingham City Council
in December 2009. Building work commenced in January 2010, with a completion schedule of mid 2013. A topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the highest part of the building took place on 14 September 2011.
The library will utilise an "aquifer ground source system" as a source of energy. Cold groundwater
will be pumped up from within the earth and used in the air conditioning system. The water will then flow back into the ground via another drilled well
. The use of groundwater as a source of renewable energy will lower the library's CO2 emissions.
In the meantime, the existing Central Library failed for the second time to gain status as a listed building. When the new library in Centenary Square is finished in 2013, immediate work is scheduled to begin on knocking down the current building to make way for the redevelopment of Paradise Circus.
Birmingham City Centre
Birmingham city centre is the business, retail and leisure hub of Birmingham, England. Following the removal of the Inner Ring Road, the city centre is newly defined as being the area within the Middle Ring Road. Birmingham city centre is undergoing massive redevelopment with the Big City Plan...
of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated on the west side of the city centre at Centenary Square
Centenary Square
Centenary Square is a public square on Broad Street in central Birmingham, England, named in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status in 1889....
beside the Birmingham Rep and Baskerville House
Baskerville House
Baskerville House, previously called the Civic Centre, is a former civic building in Centenary Square, Birmingham, England.-History:The site was originally occupied by the home of John Baskerville. He was buried nearby in the area which was known as Easy Hill...
. It replaces the old Birmingham Central Library
Birmingham Central Library
Birmingham Central Library is the main public library in Birmingham, England, and the largest non-national library in Europe. It is managed by Birmingham City Council...
and will provide pedestrian street access extending from Centenary Square to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The new library is near the present central library but the new library is just outside the City Centre Core
City Centre Core
The City Centre Core in Birmingham, England, is the historic heart of the city roughly comprising the area within the former Birmingham Inner Ring Road....
while the present library is just within the core. It is estimated the new library will cost £188.8 million and is seen by Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
as a flagship project for the Redevelopment of Birmingham. A model of the new library is on display on the ground floor of the present Central Library. The library will feature high towers with imposing views of Brimingham, there will be patio
Patio
A patio is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a residence and is typically paved. It may refer to a roofless inner courtyard of the sort found in Spanish-style dwellings or a paved area between a residence and a garden....
s with railings designed artistically among other features.
Upon completion, it will be the biggest public library in the country.
Origins
The council has looked into relocating the library for many years. The original plan was to build a new library in the emerging EastsideEastside, Birmingham
Eastside is a district of Birmingham City Centre, England currently undergoing a major redevelopment project. The overall cost when completed is expected to be £6–8 billion over a period of ten years which will result in the creation of 12,000 jobs. 8,000 jobs are expected to be created during the...
district, which had been opened up to the city centre following the demolition of Masshouse Circus
Masshouse
Masshouse is a site within Birmingham, United Kingdom which is under development with the construction of 13 new highrise blocks intended for public services, commerce and residential purposes. When completed, the blocks will have a prominent position on the Eastside skyline.-History:The Masshouse...
. A library was designed by Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
on a site in the area. However, for financial reasons and reservations about the location this plan was shelved. The Council had suggested that the Library be split between a new building built between the Rep theatre and Baskerville House
Baskerville House
Baskerville House, previously called the Civic Centre, is a former civic building in Centenary Square, Birmingham, England.-History:The site was originally occupied by the home of John Baskerville. He was buried nearby in the area which was known as Easy Hill...
at Centenary Square
Centenary Square
Centenary Square is a public square on Broad Street in central Birmingham, England, named in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status in 1889....
, which until 2009 was a public car park (to house the main lending library) and a building at Millennium Point in "Eastside" (to house the archives and special collections).
In August 2006, the Council confirmed the area between the Rep and Baskerville House as the future site for the library. Capita Symonds had been appointed as Project Managers for the Library of Birmingham. The council's intention was to create a "world class" landmark civic building in Centenary Square.
Not long after this, the two-sites idea was scrapped and the archives and special collections will move to the site at Centenary Square.
After an international design competition, run by the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, a shortlist of seven architects was announced on 27 March 2008. They were chosen from a list of over 100 architects. The architects chosen were:
- Foreign Office ArchitectsForeign Office ArchitectsForeign Office Architects, FOA, was an internationally acclaimed architectural design studio headed by former husband and wife team Farshid Moussavi and Alejandro Zaera-Polo. The London based studio, which was established in 1993, specialised in architectural design, master planning and interior...
- Foster and PartnersFoster and PartnersFoster + Partners is an architectural firm based in London. The practice is led by its founder and Chairman, Norman Foster, and has constructed many high-profile glass-and-steel buildings....
- Hopkins ArchitectsHopkins ArchitectsHopkins Architects Partnership LLP is a prominent British architectural firm established in 1976 by Sir Michael and Lady Patricia Hopkins. The practice has won many awards for its work and has twice been shortlisted for the Stirling Prize, including in 2011 for the 2012 London Velodrome and in...
- MecanooMecanooMecanoo is a firm of architects based in Delft, The Netherlands. The Delft based office of Mecanoo was officially founded in 1984 by Francine Houben, Henk Döll, Roelf Steenhuis, Erick van Egeraat and Chris de Weijer. The firm is directed by its original founder architect Prof. ir. Francine M.J....
- OMAOffice for Metropolitan ArchitectureOMA , is a Rotterdam based architecture firm of Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.The firm was founded in 1975 by Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis with Madelon Vriesendorp and Zoe Zenghelis.-History:...
- Schmidt Hammer LassenSchmidt hammer lassenSchmidt hammer lassen architects is an international architectural practice founded in 1986 in Aarhus, Denmark. It currently has four offices in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Oslo and London....
- Wilkinson EyreWilkinson EyreWilkinson Eyre Architects is an international architecture firm based in London, England. The firm won the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize two years in a row...
In early August 2008, Mecanoo was announced as the winner of the design competition.
More detailed plans for the library were revealed by the council in conjunction with the architects at a launch event held on 2 April 2009.
Reception
Reception to the planned library has been overwhelmingly positive. Then-Poet LaureatePoet Laureate of the United Kingdom
The Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, also referred to as the Poet Laureate, is the Poet Laureate appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Prime Minister...
Andrew Motion
Andrew Motion
Sir Andrew Motion, FRSL is an English poet, novelist and biographer, who presided as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009.- Life and career :...
said that "These plans are properly ambitious to preserve the best traditional practice, while also opening the building to new ideas about what a library should be - the heart of the community, fulfilling all manner of social needs as well as scholarly, research-based and pleasurable ones." Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman CBE, FRSL is an English writer from Norwich. He is the best-selling author of several books, most notably his trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials, and his fictionalised biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ...
said "The new Library of Birmingham sounds as if it will be lovely and should attract even more users than the present one with its impressive visitor total of 5,000 a day." Sir Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn
Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE is a prolific English playwright. He has written and produced seventy-three full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their...
said "I wholeheartedly support the proposed exciting new plans to develop the new Birmingham library" and Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh is a contemporary Scottish novelist, best known for his novel Trainspotting. His work is characterised by raw Scottish dialect, and brutal depiction of the realities of Edinburgh life...
said "[It's] an audacious and compelling initiative which promises to redefine and modernise the entire notion of public library services, and in the process create the greatest public information resource in Europe ... Writers will love it, and so will readers."
Construction
Preparation of the ground for building, and archaeologicalArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
work between Baskerville House
Baskerville House
Baskerville House, previously called the Civic Centre, is a former civic building in Centenary Square, Birmingham, England.-History:The site was originally occupied by the home of John Baskerville. He was buried nearby in the area which was known as Easy Hill...
and The Rep
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
had begun before planning permission had been granted. Planning permission was finally granted and approved by Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
in December 2009. Building work commenced in January 2010, with a completion schedule of mid 2013. A topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the highest part of the building took place on 14 September 2011.
The library will utilise an "aquifer ground source system" as a source of energy. Cold groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
will be pumped up from within the earth and used in the air conditioning system. The water will then flow back into the ground via another drilled well
Well drilling
Well drilling is the process of drilling a hole in the ground for the extraction of a natural resource such as ground water, natural gas, or petroleum...
. The use of groundwater as a source of renewable energy will lower the library's CO2 emissions.
In the meantime, the existing Central Library failed for the second time to gain status as a listed building. When the new library in Centenary Square is finished in 2013, immediate work is scheduled to begin on knocking down the current building to make way for the redevelopment of Paradise Circus.