The recent American Institute of Architects (AIA) Library Building Awards 2016 celebrated new and renovated libraries across the US. The winners all had one thing in common; they utilised space, light and materials to positively affect the mood of inhabitants. The designs are a great example of how successful architecture can provide health benefits for the people who use the buildings.

Architecture is about much more than an attractive exterior and interior. In fact, buildings that look impressive but don’t satisfy their primary functions will be considered to have failed. The award winning libraries in the US comply with this philosophy and satisfy both the functions of the space as well as impressing visitors with their aesthetics.

The AIA recently compiled a list of six key areas that architects should consider whenever they are designing a building. Included in the list are safety, promotion of social connectedness, ease of movement and sensory stimulation. Not surprisingly, the use of light, space and materials have a major impact on each of these factors.

Libraries can be challenging to design because they are used for quiet, personal study as well as group work and community events. This means the design needs to satisfy a range of demands and cater for the different needs of users. When it comes to libraries, architects need to create flexible spaces that can be adapted for different purposes. Each library should have architecture that promotes thought, relaxation and exploration, enabling people to get in the right mindset to absorb and retain information. This will ensure the space meets its primary requirement and make it a success.

At Coffey Architects we have extensive experience creating libraries, including our BFI Reuben Library project at London’s BFI Southbank building, which gave us the opportunity to innovate with a limited budget and short timescale. The library is home to a huge collection of books, journals, and digital materials from the film and TV world, providing a resource used by thousands of people on a daily basis. Our design took into account the different needs of visitors, creating an inviting, accessible space as well as study spaces that can be separated off.

This is just one example of the library work undertaken by our architects in London; please contact us if you have a project you would like to discuss with our team.