Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Library design

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about library design

Project • By Bureau vandervormOffices

Lubbers Boer Douma

Lubbers Boer Douma can best be described as a high-end tax boutique. The firm is located in two monumental buildings right next to the Hofvijver in The Hague. This historic setting perfectly complements the firm’s distinguished and high-quality image. Studio Ina Matt was responsible for the interior design, creating a cohesive style across both buildings. The result is a light, elegant and serene working environment: modern and classical at the same time. Sander Besems Sander Besems We advised on the furniture and also took care of the delivery and installation. From workstations to accessories and rugs, every element was carefully selected to align with the overall design concept. Sander Besems   Sander Bese... More

Project • By SZ-ARCHITECTSShops

A Very Small 24-hour Bookstore

The project breathes new life into a forgotten remnant of urban history: a former prison guard tower. Through a strategic reconstruction of structure, materials, and function, SZ-ARCHITECTS has transformed this once-restrictive vertical element into a welcoming, diminutive sanctuary. Open 24 hours to the surrounding neighborhood, the project addresses the need for inclusive public space in a dense urban fabric. By converting a symbol of surveillance and isolation into a beacon of knowledge and community, the '24-hour bookstore' explores how micro-architectural interventions can heal and activate local social environments. Mata Okawa Mata Okawa A BUILDING DISCOVERED BY CHANCE BECOMES A 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE The project began with an... More

Project • By MO-OF / Mobile OfficesLibraries

K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Library

The libraries of the Future; A Management school library reimagined. Traditional libraries are seeing a shift in paradigm globally. The book collection or storage-based libraries are changing to a more user centric model which are powered by a large variety of digital services. This phenomenon has allowed for a tectonic shift in the organisation and spatial configuration of the classical Library. The libraries of tomorrow aspire to offer knowledge to a fast-developing E-society where the library is not only a space for learning but also a place for meeting.  MO-OF / Mobile Offices The image of the Future library is no more a sacred ‘Temple of silence’ or a strong ‘Fortress for books’. It can be perceived... More

Project • By SD Sharma & AssociatesLibraries

Library at NIT Jalandhar

This project entailed designing and construction of a library for the “Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar.” They stipulated an E-library (also known as digital library, is a collection of documents in an organized digital form, available on the internet or on disks) as an extension to the already existing library in coping up with the needs and requirements of the students in the contemporary world.  Purneesh Dev Nikhanj and Govind The brief was to create a minimalist yet innovative building to mirror its function and to be a paragon of modern architecture. This building would be an exemplar of the university's endeavors in striding into the modern era.  Purneesh Dev Nikhanj and Govin... More

Project • By Atelier ARBOPrimary Schools

Atelier ARBO Designs Montessori School Library

Nestled on a quiet, undisturbed 6-acre contour site on the outskirts of Bangalore, Valiants Academy—a Montessori institution known for its child-centric pedagogy—offers an environment steeped in peace, curiosity, and purpose. The natural calm of the setting is no accident; it reflects the school’s philosophy of nurturing growth through discovery, freedom, and beauty. Recognizing the deep enthusiasm for reading among his students, the school’s principal envisioned a space where books could become gateways to adventure, thought, and creativity. He turned to Atelier ARBO, a Mumbai-based architectural firm renowned for its thoughtful, human-centered design, to help bring this vision to life. The result is a 3,600 sq. ft... More

Project • By Tuncer Cakmakli ArchitectsCommunity Centres

Czech National Library

Nestled amidst the historical enchantment of Prague, the architectural masterpiece that is the Czech National Library stands as a testament to the profound connection between history, literature, and the serene allure of an architectural garden. Rooted in the rich tapestry of Prague’s past, this library transcends the conventional notions of a repository of books. It is a living tribute to the city’s cultural heritage, where every architectural detail echoes the whispers of history and invites visitors into a calm haven for intellectual exploration. Caption The Czech National Library unfolds as a literary sanctuary within a city park, its architectural design seamlessly blending the realms of literature and nature. Here, t... More

Project • By FluxwerxLibraries

Hapeville Library

The new Hapeville Library (Hapeville, GA) embraces the town’s association with speed and industrial innovation. Taking cues from the jet era, the building’s form references engine air intakes, gridded flight chart data, and concrete pouring patterns used for runways. Firewater Photography - McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture To ensure function matched form, the McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture design team needed energy efficient lighting that would create a comfortable environment for visitors and elevate the building’s architectural motif.  Firewater Photography - McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture Aperture linear suspended luminaires helped the designers achieve these goals. Perforation has long been u... More

Project • By FluxwerxLibraries

Christa McAuliffe Library

Nestled in Framingham’s suburban Nobscot neighbourhood is a spectacular new library that is drawing visitors of all ages. The 17,000 square foot Christa McAuliffe Library officially opened on May 15, 2016 and now holds over 65,000 books. The library is triple the size of the former branch library, with six times as many public computer stations. Damianos Photography Proper lighting is crucial to the overall success of a library. Sladen Feinstein lighting design team specified Fluxwerx’s Profile LED luminaires to create a glare-free and visually comfortable reading and study environment. The small aperture and high output of Profile fixtures made them a design-conscious and efficient choice. Suspended 25 feet from the ceili... More

NewsSpecification • 12 Sep 2023

10 libraries featuring warm wood interiors

Traditionally, a library is often remembered as a place of quiet study, filled with hushed tones and old-fashioned librarians. However, today’s libraries will typically offer an array of community-centered, cultural, social, and inclusive activities and facilities, programmed within open and contemporary spaces. More and more, today’s school, university, public, and community libraries are mixing quiet areas that encourage educational pursuits with those that embrace recreation. One material that is increasingly used in modern-day library interiors is wood. An exceptionally versatile building material, wood is hard-wearing and offers structural rigidity, especially when using engineered timber. Wood is a sustainable and renewab... More

NewsNews • 12 Jan 2023

Pingtan Book House provides a new paradigm for rural village libraries in China with a twist on traditional wooden structure design

Offering a new paradigm for rural village libraries in China, Pingtan Book House by CONDITION_LAB provides a place where children can read and play within a traditional timber house. Zhao Sai For many years, Chinese villages such as Dong have seen a decline in their traditional architectural heritage, with concrete replacing the more sustainable indigenous China fir as the prime construction material. In this case, the Pingtan Primary School was constructed 20 years ago and is a typical example of a concrete complex accommodating more than 300 children in a group of buildings that includes a Hall and Canteen, Classroom, Dormitories, and an Administration building, all oriented around a courtyard. Zhao Sai In light of thi... More

Project • By JC. Architecture & DesignCultural Centres

Not Just Library

This is not just a library, not just a 83-year-old bathhouse monument, not just a cultural venue.   Down the corridor, with lights filling upwards and incoming scent of books, one can let go of the chaotic outdoors and enjoy being bathed in spirits and knowledge. 李國民攝影工作室 Kuomin Lee Taking the inspiration from a drop bathhouse, pick up a book from the bookshelf made of stacked birch plywood, sink it in. The plywood reveals a gentle light that accompanies people like a book bath, immerse them in invisible thoughts. Words recording speeches, speeches shaping the communication between the inspiration and creativity between inner hearts and mind. Here, it doesn’t just serve the purpose of personal gatherings, the possibilitie... More

NewsNews • 14 Dec 2022

LAAB Architects refurbish the Asia Art Archive public library in Hong Kong

Hong Kong-based art non-profit and library Asia Art Archive is a platform for new concepts focusing on historically marginalised art knowledge and histories. Revamped by local architecture studio LAAB Architects, the library, home to more than 120,000 historical art materials, seeks to identify itself as a nurturing, inviting and inclusive space for people, books, and everything in between. Otto Ng of LAAB The renovation involves replacing the walls with floor-to-ceiling glass panels, allowing abundant natural light inside and transforming the library into an inviting and spacious space. Additionally, removing the non-structural walls and lining them with a wooden shelving system allowed room for community engagement.  O... More

Project • By AshariArchitectsLibraries

Sadra Library

Sadra library design initiated by the fundamental researches in order to illustrating the strengths and the weaknesses of the project context.As the result, two main goals were considered: Caption 1-In association with city:Creating an interactive form in relation with nature. 2-In association with function:Rethinking og conventional and traditional library design concept and creating new spatial quality In order to reach the first aim and because the site location has dual view into city and nature, in first step the position of the form was determined.In fact,we related the shape in south-north direction in consistency with adjacent texture and for using natural light and view… Caption At first,due to the limited budg... More

Project • By AIDIA STUDIOOffices

Pyeongchang Knowledge Hub

Design Intent. The main objective has been to transform an inward-looking, utilitarian warehouse into a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral facility that places the user and the visitor at the centre of the operations and experience of the building. AIDIA STUDIO ​The building has been re-shaped, and its appearance softened, our aim has been to reinterpret the beauty of the surrounding scenery, the striking sinuous mountain ranges, the winding turns of the ski slopes and the snow formations, into a visually stunning building with abundant green areas and recreation zones for the staff and visitors. AIDIA STUDIO ​We embrace the challenge of reutilizing as much as possible of the existing warehouse and office building structures; our... More

NewsNews • 6 Oct 2021

Stanbridge Mill Library a contemporary conversion that retains the essence of an original farm building

Set in a group of outbuildings on the Grade II listed Stanbridge Mill Farm in Dorset, the Stanbridge Mill Library by Crawshaw Architects in Dorset was originally a cowshed, then used for storage of farm machinery and garden maintenance for over forty years. The new library conversion sits alongside a beautifully converted Georgian farmhouse with a shallow river running beneath a well-preserved water mill.  Ingrid Rasmussen The library conversion sees a poorly-lit farm building into service as a library and office. While a decisive transformation of the interior was called for, the architect explain that they felt the original use of the building needed to be part of the story.  Ingrid Rasmussen As such, the high nave a... More