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The London Library

Founded in 1841 by Thomas Carlyle, the Grade II listed London Library is the largest independent subscription library in the world housing some one million books and periodicals. Following a competitive selection process, Haworth Tompkins were commissioned to analyse the building's physical and cultural identity in order to clarify patterns of use, and increase available capacity.

Library

Westminster, London		 Since its inception the London Library has evolved into a complex amalgam of spaces that originate from a residential building sited on the north west corner of St James's Square. The building was entirely reconstructed in 1896-98, as one of the first steel-frame buildings in London. Over the years, additional buildings have been annexed to house the ever-growing needs of the Library and its users. The recent acquisition of an adjoining building in Mason's Yard to the north of the Library, is now instrumental to the redevelopment scheme. With the acquisition of over 8,000 volumes a year, the Library requires half a mile of additional shelving every three years. The 21st Century has brought new challenges including the urgent provision of more space for the collection, staff and members; the introduction of new technology; the conservation of book stocks; and improvement in the environmental conditions of the existing building. By using a discreet modern language, our scheme respects the strengths and character of the existing fabric, successfully fusing this with the contemporary functions and technologies essential to a modern library and its users. Much of the project focuses on restoring legibility to the Library, and making it easier for its users to navigate. A new circulation layout will improve movement throughout and lead seamlessly to the new Duchess House extension. The original grand staircase will be maintained as the original route from the entrance through the Issue Hall to the first floor Reading Room and beyond to the original Victorian book stacks. The lightwell area will be opened up to improve legibility and a new lift and staircase will rationalise the main vertical circulation. Through a sensitive removal of compromising interventions that have built up over time, the Issue Hall and Reading Room will be returned to their former grandeur, re-establishing them as the natural heart of the library. Essential front of house facilities will be dramatically improved, and a secondary members' entrance direct from Mason's Yard into the Issue Hall introduced, affording disabled access to the building. Strong existing features are to be retained and set against new interventions, providing the Library with improved book storage, enhanced reader support, staff and member facilities. The historic book stacks, a unique cast iron Victorian structure dating from the 1890s, will be extended upwards with three new levels. Crucial environmental improvements will enable use of the original book stacks to be maintained, forming a key element of the project. The 1930s Art Room, located between Duchess House and the rest of the Library will gain a new significance as the central circulatory connection to the new building. The Art Room had been compromised over time through unsympathetic remodelling and will now be restored with a double-height space at its centre. Housing the art collection, the remodelled room will connect through to Duchess House and will be opened up to create a special space distinct from the typical book stacks, lined with bespoke semi-transparent shelving on two levels. The overall scheme will improve staff accommodation and bring together departments previously split across the site, relocating activities into more appropriate locations. The basement of the Library will house the Periodicals and Societies collection, forming a destination in its own right with a direct link from the Issue Hall via a new staircase and benefiting from the newly-opened up lightwell. Duchess House will provide a mix of uses, enabling improved integration with the rest of the Library, and will house a new Conservation Studio in addition to book stacks. In a contemporary addition to the existing buildings, we have designed a new high level Reading Room and Members' Space at the fifth and sixth floors of the 1992 Mason's Yard extension. With access to an enclosed roof terrace, the contemporary reading room will also be used for education programmes and social functions, with views over St James's Square to Westminster and the London Eye. THE LONDON LIBRARY
Client: The London Library
Value: £15,430,000
Completion: 2008