The long awaited opening of Brighton’s Jubilee Library is on March 3 2005, World Book Day. It is an impressive construction: ultra modern, innovative and one of the most energy efficient public buildings in the country.
The £14 million library, a private finance initiative (PFI) organised by Brighton and Hove Council, will be the focus of a new city square. It is part of an ‘architectural renaissance’ which will see the transformation of the site, which has been derelict for half a century, into a vibrant space for contemporary urban living.
“What we have tried to create is a building that reflects the historical role of the public library in society,” said Rab Bennetts, from Bennetts Associates Architects. “It has calm, lofty spaces, and the sense that it is an important, accessible public institution,” he added.
The library’s glass front is striking and links the inside and outside spaces. Other walls are clad with thousands of dark blue and green hand glazed ceramic tiles, suggesting the ‘mathematical’ tiles on many historic Brighton buildings.
Being inside the building feels just as airy and spacious as being outside. Inspiration for the ‘cathedral-like’ interior was drawn from the 19th century Paris libraries of Henri Labrouste.
While still being modern, the décor has a funky 70s feel to it: beechwood walls, lime green chairs and turquoise information desks – well, this is Brighton.
However impressive, the design of the building should not overshadow what it contains. Jubilee Library houses three times as many books as the previous main library.
There are traditional as well as specialist services, which should cater for all of the estimated one million visitors each year.
The space dedicated to teenagers should prove particularly popular. It contains fiction, Playstation, CDs, DVDs and material to help with homework.
There is also a rare books and special collections area with material spanning six centuries.
Library services will be more accessible through large print and tactile building signs, colour contrasting surfaces as well as computer software that magnifies text or converts it to speech.
Making the building eco-friendly was a very important element in the design process. The sun’s energy is gathered through the vast glass south wall and heat is stored in the walls and floor, and released slowly into the surrounding space. Even the toilets are flushed with recovered rainwater!
Three art installations have been commissioned for the library under the city council’s Per Cent for Art Scheme. The commissions were won in an open competition. Kate Malone’s ‘Wall of a Thousand Stories’ is in the Children’s Library.
Set on a blue background is a galaxy of applied ceramic objects, drifting across the wall. It will be used at story telling events, when children can choose objects from the wall – which range from a didgeridoo to a pencil, as the basis for a story. “I’m thrilled to have my work permanently in this library,” said Kate Malone.
Georgia Russell’s suspended paper installation in the library foyer is made from cut paper, enlarged and printed onto a layer of glass. She says of the piece, “It’s a lace-like web of layered text illuminated by a moving ray of light.”
The installation is suspended above head height and can be viewed from the square outside, drawing people into the library.
Caroline Barton has designed three sculptural pieces for the new Jubilee Square. Each is made from alternating layers of oak and clear acrylic. At night, the sculptures are lit up and glow electric blue.
When the doors of the Jubilee Library open for the first time, it will reveal itself to be a treasure trove of surprises for all visitors.
Emily Sands is the 24 Hour Museum Renaissance Student Writer in the South Eastern region. Renaissance is the groundbreaking initiative to transform England's regional museums, led by MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
