The Gosford Regional Library has been designed to generate a civic presence within the Civic Heart of Gosford, directly addressing the public space of Kibble Park. Kibble Park itself serves the symbolic role of ‘Town Square’, and the new Library will in turn symbolically act as a ‘Town Hall’.

As a public building, Lahznimmo Architects believed it was important to create a link between the new Library and Kibble Park by drawing the public domain of the park into the building and creating a semi-outdoors landscaped forecourt within the site. This space is named the ‘Neighbourhood Room’, a covered space that connects three levels of the building and provides a weather protected and gently tempered environment, containing tall mature Cabbage Tree palms, a plant synonymous with the natural environment of the Central Coast. The various functions of the library are arranged around the Neighbourhood Room, with views directly into and across it.

Our early analysis determined that the iconic views toward Presidents Hill and Rumbalara Reserve were the prime assets of the site, and that these should be preserved and celebrated for the benefit of the public. Therefore, the decision was made to locate the main library collection and public reading rooms to the top of the building where the views are at their best, with a ‘Public Living Room’ running the full width of the north façade unobstructed.

The children’s library is located on the ground level at the street front with extensive glazing which helps to animate the street and promotes the early learning activities within. Adjacent the main entry, visitors are greeted with the sound of children's laughter on arrival. It also provides convenient access for the many parents with children and prams who are attending the book reading activities. The library also includes; a 300 seat multi-purpose auditorium, flexible meetings spaces of varying sizes, wet and dry maker spaces, a recording studio, innovation hub, exhibition and local history collection.

Lahznimmo Architects have worked closely with Central Coast Council stakeholders to develop the design of the new Gosford Regional Library through a process of design workshops and briefing sessions that has addressed the requirements of the community. The design presents an innovate approach to extending the public domain with the civic scaled Neighbourhood Room and a considered resolution of building form and function that responds to the context and attributes of the site.