Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, opens to the public
18/12/2019.
[Victoria] Australia
metalocus, ÁNGEL TORNE
metalocus, ÁNGEL TORNE
As the busiest public library in Australia, attracting 1.8 million visitors and 3.3 million online users each year, State Library Victoria is a rich and celebrated cultural institution in Melbourne, a space that reaches out to a broad range of users.
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Photograph by Trevor Mein
Redeveloped State Library Victoria by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.
State Library Victoria, a historic Australian landmark, has officially reopened its doors to the public, revealing extensively transformed library spaces designed by Danish architectural firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Australian architecture and design studio Architectus. The library comprises 23 individual buildings and occupies an entire city block in Melbourne’s city centre.
The newly designed spaces are part of a five-year redevelopment plan aimed at expanding the library’s community outreach and enhancing the visitor experience. Working in partnership, Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Architectus were tasked with rethinking and revitalising the existing spaces of the library in order to unlock possibilities, create connections, and provide a framework for the library’s ongoing and future evolution.
Elif Tinaztepe, Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen, said that working on a project of such historical and cultural significance was an exercise in contrasts.
The newly designed spaces are part of a five-year redevelopment plan aimed at expanding the library’s community outreach and enhancing the visitor experience. Working in partnership, Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Architectus were tasked with rethinking and revitalising the existing spaces of the library in order to unlock possibilities, create connections, and provide a framework for the library’s ongoing and future evolution.
Elif Tinaztepe, Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen, said that working on a project of such historical and cultural significance was an exercise in contrasts.
“Our work is deeply contextual, so we dedicated ourselves to studying this historical institution and understanding its important place in the cultural landscape of Melbourne. Our aim with the transformation of State Library Victoria was to allow the heritage spaces to stand out in their raw beauty while complementing them with a strong contemporary design line to help carry this beloved institution into the future. Respecting the authenticity of the spaces and existing design elements was our guiding principle.”
Ruth Wilson, Principal and Melbourne Studio Leader at Architectus, said the design concept for the completed transformation puts library users at the centre, providing an open, accessible, and welcoming experience for all ages and cultural backgrounds. “The library has been evolving for more than 160 years and with this restoration now complete, we have prepared the library for its future uses, cementing its position in Melbourne’s history as the centre of inspiration and education.”
More information
Architects
Collaborators
Andronas Conservation Architects, Irwinconsult, Steensen Varming, Arup, McKenzie Group Consulting, Salus, ID Lab
Client
State Library Victoria
Area
13,532 m²
Dates
Competition/ 2016, winner of tender, international competition. Status/ Completed 2019.
Photography
Trevor Mein
Architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects was founded in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1986 by architects Morten Schmidt, Bjarne Hammer and John F. Lassen. Today, the practice has grown substantially and employs 150 staff. The group of partners has also grown and now includes Senior Partners Kim Holst Jensen and Kristian Lars Ahlmark, Partners Chris Hardie and Rong Lu. In addition, there are six associate partners and seven associates. Day-to-day management of the practice is the responsibility of CEO Bente Damgaard.
The practice has extensive global experience in the design of libraries and other public and cultural landmark buildings including the Katuaq Cultural Centre of Greenland in Nuuk (1997), the extension to the Royal Library in Copenhagen (1999), ARoS Museum of Art in Aarhus (2004), Halifax Central Library in Canada (2015) and the largest public library in Scandinavia, Dokk1 in Aarhus (2015). Aside cultural buildings, our works have a democratic approach to architecture creating modern, open and multi-functional spaces such as The International Criminal Court in The Hague (2016) We pride ourselves on projects which interact with their urban context placing particular emphasis on the surroundings and social context like Malmö Live, a Concert/Congress/Hotel centre in Sweden (2015), Ningbo Home of Staff in China (under construction) and Christchurch Central Library in New Zealand (under construction).
Awards. WAF mixed Use Award 2016/ Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in Canada/ Public Library of the Year Award 2016/ A+Award 2016/ Årets Bygge 2016/ Architectural Review MIPIM Future Project Awards 2015/ World Green Design Product Award 2014/ RIBA National Award 2013/ RIAS Award 2013/ LEAF Award 2011 to name but a few.
The practice has extensive global experience in the design of libraries and other public and cultural landmark buildings including the Katuaq Cultural Centre of Greenland in Nuuk (1997), the extension to the Royal Library in Copenhagen (1999), ARoS Museum of Art in Aarhus (2004), Halifax Central Library in Canada (2015) and the largest public library in Scandinavia, Dokk1 in Aarhus (2015). Aside cultural buildings, our works have a democratic approach to architecture creating modern, open and multi-functional spaces such as The International Criminal Court in The Hague (2016) We pride ourselves on projects which interact with their urban context placing particular emphasis on the surroundings and social context like Malmö Live, a Concert/Congress/Hotel centre in Sweden (2015), Ningbo Home of Staff in China (under construction) and Christchurch Central Library in New Zealand (under construction).
Awards. WAF mixed Use Award 2016/ Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in Canada/ Public Library of the Year Award 2016/ A+Award 2016/ Årets Bygge 2016/ Architectural Review MIPIM Future Project Awards 2015/ World Green Design Product Award 2014/ RIBA National Award 2013/ RIAS Award 2013/ LEAF Award 2011 to name but a few.
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