Industry News
the collections for the first time. The exterior of the building, from the first to the
eighth floor, will be wrapped with an intricate metal façade, echoing the tunnels, canals and viaducts that fuelled Birmingham’s industrial growth. Besides the Shakespeare Memorial Room and the new shared studio theatre with neighbour- ing Repertory Theatre, Birmingham’s 35,000 m2 new library will comprise a study centre, music library, community health centre, multimedia, archives, offices, exhibition halls and cafes. Francine Houben, Founding Partner of Mecanoo
Architects, went on to say: "The circular pattern of the metal framework, the Library of Birmingham honours the city's industrial heritage, in particular the craftsmanship in metal work. For me, the circles symbolise unity, and relate well to the purpose of the metal frieze, unifying the different functions within the building with one gesture and expressing openness to the public."
forms a grand city balcony with views of the events and happenings on the square. The Library of Birmingham is a transparent
glass building. Its delicate filigree skin is inspired by the artisan tradition of this once industrial city. Elevators and escalators, dynamically placed in the heart of the library, form connections between the eight circular spaces within the building. These rotundas play an important role not only in the routing through the library but also provide natural light and ventilation. The building will feature a spacious entrance
and foyer with mezzanine, the gateway to both the Library and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, to which the new Library will be physi- cally connected. There will also be a new flexible studio theatre, a lower ground level with indoor terraces, four further public levels and two outdoor elevated garden terraces. A ‘golden box’ of secure archive storage will occupy two levels of the building, within which the city’s internation- ally significant collection of archives, photography and rare books will be stored. A new state of the art exhibition space will open up public access to
Sustainability 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. Sun shading and reflective materials within the façades block the harsh rays of the sun during the height of afternoon while allowing natural daylight into the interiors. The ground floor benefits from the mass of the soil, which provides buffering and insulation. The circular patio cut out of the square creates a protected outdoor space and invites daylight deep into the building. The building will incorporate a mixed mode and natural ventilation strategy. The façade will respond to external conditions and openings will allow fresh air intake and outflow. The addition of soft landscaped roof spaces will further enhance the immediate surrounding conditions.
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