Gone are the days when a library is designed to serve as just a simple building with a sanctuary of books. As a result of technology and trailblazing designs, it is now a beautiful space with dynamic tools like podcast studios, game developing, and other activities. There is also a massive difference in the way these libraries are designed. The design used in making libraries in this generation ensures that it is a centerpiece and attracts your everyday millennial. Here is a list of top libraries around the world that have a futuristic architecture design.
National Library Doha, Qatar
Designed by Dutch OMA with Vincent Kerstin as the senior Architect, this impressive 485,000-square-foot library is the home of over a million books from the University Library, the Doha National Library, and the Public Library. Instead of a reception desk, you will encounter four media walls located at the Library entrance. The walls are used to promote books, events, and collection.
The library also has 11 interactive totems. It offers guests with content presented innovatively and intuitively. It is set up in a way that allows 22 people to interact. The library also has a Wayfinding Kiosk to help visitors move around and a heritage area with 22 touch screens that guests can use to browse through to learn about the library and the artifacts they can find.
Tianjin Binhai Library
The Tianjin Binhai Library structure is concentrated around a giant sphere, which is used to house auditoriums. The Auditorium can be viewed through an eye-shaped window building facade. The auditorium is seen as a pupil. It is no wonder the Library is known as the eye of Binhai.
The bookshelves in the library resemble a topographical map that seems to go upward into the ceiling. The shelves can be used as both the stairs and seating area. The library is known to hold up to 1.2 million books. Guests, even the children and elderly, can easily access the library, the auditorium, main entrance, terraced access, and the floors. The first two floors of the library are mainly reading areas and lounges. The upper floors are used as offices, computer labs, meeting rooms, and audio rooms. The library also has a rooftop patio. The building was designed by a Dutch company MVRDV.
Hunt Library
Nothing says future like the Hunt Library in North Carolina, USA. The library design is used to encourage creativity, reflection, and awe. It also offers quiet places to study as well as places for study groups to comfortably assemble and collaborate. The library has natural light flood areas, and a skyline reading room found on the top level. When you find your way to the library’s top stories, you will get an expansive view of Lake Raleigh. It also has solar panel lines. It also has an automated book retrieval system. Almost a third of the products used by the architectural practice, Snøhetta are recyclable.
Children’s Library at Concourse House
Another futuristic Library is the Children’s Library at Concourse House. Although the American Studio MKCA designed a blueprint that is simple, it is a library and a shelter that offers transitional housing and other social services for women and their children. The main focus of this library is to provide activities for children who are below the age of nine. The library offers space and opportunity for the kids to be imaginative and creative.
The library has 1200 children’s books. It also features a barrel-vaulted ceiling and serves as a backdrop to the activities of the library. It has upholstery puffs that can be used for seating, and children can sit comfortably on the floor. It has an erasable writing surface for kids to use and also LED lighting. The library also offers space for reading, story time, and other events that are organized around books.
Conclusion
Thanks to futuristic innovation of renowned architects, a library is now more than a place where one reads. Modern libraries ensure those who visit will have a comfortable place to do their reading. But that’s just the beginning. Seating, lighting, ease of access to books and inventory are the cornerstone to some of these new designs. As technology advances, so will the designs of the structures that do more than simply house books.
