When the doors of the new Melbourne Public Library opened in 1856 ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ was a prosperous and optimistic city, its new free library spoke of the city’s connection, status and currency in a world context.
State Library Victoria
A new memory institution
State Library Victoria, the oldest and busiest public library in Australia, is a founding institution and cultural anchor in Melbourne. It provides spaces for learning and exploration to all citizens and leads the preservation of the state's heritage for future generations.
In its many incarnations over the years, the library has continually provided a unique place for all Victorians to enjoy access to knowledge and engage with collections that reflect their shared history and inspire the future. However, comprised by 23 buildings in total, visitors experienced the library through a confusing sequence of spaces that made it easy to leave the building without being fully aware of its diverse offerings.
To bring State Library Victoria into the 21st century, a five-year redevelopment plan was launched, and in 2019 the library reopened its doors to the public, revealing an extensively transformed institution. The refurbishment respects the library’s authenticity and rediscovers its existing qualities by enhancing the historical characteristics. In putting the user experience at the centre, a series of co-creation workshops during the design process engaged the users directly in the redevelopment of their library. Inputs and feedback gave valuable insights, which helped inform the design. With a clear hierarchy of thresholds and spaces, the various zones are now both physically and visually connected and creates a more holistic journey through the building. The design emphasises free access to knowledge, encourages curiosity and exploration of ideas and theories.
Today, State Library Victoria provides an open, accessible, and welcoming place for all ages and cultural backgrounds. As a memory institution, it has reinforced Melbourne's position as a UNESCO City of Literature and its reputation as a world-class centre for culture, arts, and events holding a vital role as custodian of the past and curator or the future.
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A new design line for State Library Victoria; unlocking possibilities, creating connections, a framework for evolution.
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State Library Victoria has undergone multiple expansions since it first opened in 1856. With a total of 23 buildings, the library was challenged by an incoherent intricate floor plan, which made it difficult for visitors to navigate and access the library’s many services. Furthermore, the numerous expansions had resulted in a eclectic architectural expression.
To address these issues, and affirm its position as the cultural heart of Melbourne, the refurbishment of State Library Victoria was aimed at creating a contemporary and consistent design line and unlock possibilities, create strong physical and visual connections across the premises and offer a modern framework that corresponds with the users’ needs and expectations, thus supporting the library’s ongoing and future evolution.
The architectural design concept puts the users at its centre, providing an open, accessible, and welcoming experience for all ages and cultural backgrounds.
During the design process a series of co-creation workshops were held to engage the users directly in the Library’s redevelopment. Inputs from children, teens and their families have helped create a deep understanding for what their dream library would look like, their needs, and what they would like to see in the new facilities.
A drawing made by one of the kids during the workshop was translated into the creation of the user's dream library.
At the heart of the architectural concept was a desire to weave together the building’s numerous spaces through a contemporary architectural narrative. Before the redevelopment, the layout of the library drew visitors through a sequence of spaces that made it easy to leave the building without being fully aware of the library’s diverse offering. Now, a more holistic experience has been created with a clear hierarchy of thresholds and spaces, connecting the various zones of the library physically and visually, thus supporting a seamless movement between the collections.
Spaces have been revealed and made directly accessible, allowing visitors to move through the library more intuitively, exploring and uncovering all its treasures
The Jewel in the Crown - the historic 163-year-old The Ian Potter Queen’s Hall has now reopened to the public after 16 years. During the restoration, the space was stripped back, revealing its former beauty and original paint work. Peeling off and unveiling the historic layers has reinforced the sense of stewardship of the library's incredible legacy.
The rediscovery of the unique relics of the past, unlocking the building's potential, has helped the library reclaim its role as a true cultural and public hub in the city – a place for people to engage, learn, socialise, and be inspired.
The 1910 marble staircase that allows for easier, direct access to the dome has also been reopened for the first time since 2003, with its original worn marble retained and revealed beneath a new overlay.
The refurbishment is a part of an ongoing evolution of the library that seeks to provide a strong and consistent design language. A concept that lives on beyond the tranche of works, which offers a framework to guide future works; a strong, identifiable idea that steers all decisions.
State Library Victoria's collections
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- Location:
- Melbourne, Australia
- Programme:
- Public library
- Size:
- 13,532 m²
- Client:
- State Library Victoria (SLV)
- Commission:
- International competition, winner of tender, 2016
- Collaborating Architect:
- Architectus
- Engineer:
- WSP
- Photo:
- Trevor Mein, Brett Boardman
- Awards:
- City of Melbourne’s Urban Design Award, Australian Library and Information Association, National Exemplar Award, Victorian Premier’s Design Award for Architectural De-sign, AIA International Region Merit Award for Open International Architecture, AIA International Region, Sustainable Future Award, Commendation for Public Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Architecture Awards, Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter Awards in the Heritage & Conservation and Public Architecture categories, The Melbourne Prize
Redeveloping a Heritage Library
The iconic State Library Victoria opened in 1854 and is Australia’s oldest and busiest public library, attracting over 1.8 million visitors and 3.3 million online users annually. Conceived as ‘the people’s university’, it is a place for learning and discovery for all Victorians. It is one of the world’s first free public libraries.
In 2016, Schmidt Hammer Lassen won the international competition to redevelop the existing library spaces and repurpose a number of neighbouring buildings and courtyards to become an integrated part of the library. To bring the institution into the 21st century, increase the library’s community outreach and enhance the visitor experience, Schmidt Hammer Lassen has revitalised the remarkable cultural institution and created innovative new spaces for children and teenagers. The library services have been revitalised to embrace new technologies and promote digital literacy and creativity. The design incorporates existing qualities, while offering new connections and providing a framework for the library’s current and future evolution.
Just inside the new Russell Street entrance is the new Baldwin Spencer Hall, a warm, welcoming space that anchors the library on an urban scale.
Baldwin Spencer Hall now houses a lounge and meeting space called the Russell Street Welcome Zone, which includes the new Guild café, and the Readings bookshop that is relocated from the western end of the library.
Works from local visual artist Tai Snaith spans a 29-metre wall, and the grand space is grounded by restored original jarrah floors, a hardwood native to Australia.
Moving further into the library, the redeveloped McArthur and Swinburne Galleries house reading rooms designated as quiet space for reading and research. State-of-the-art audio-visual technology and a new production kitchen occupy the Isabella Fraser Room, a new special events venue named after the library’s first female employee.
The adjacent Victoria Gallery is a 500-square-metre exhibition space that offers an immersive and interactive experience for visitors.
Throughout State Library Victoria, all furniture, fittings and equipment were carefully selected and designed to complement the architectural interventions.
This includes moveable elements and fixed pieces that work together in aesthetic harmony, tying the project together.
“When we set out to renew our Library, we knew it would require both world leading expertise in reimagining what a library could be, and local insight into what Victorians want and need.
The Architectus and Schmidt Hammer Lassen partnership gave us just that. Their work ensures we can continue to respond to the changing needs of our vibrant and diverse community giving the people of Victoria a library for the future.”
During the design process, a series of co-creation workshops where held to engage the users directly in the library’s redevelopment. Input and feedback from children, teens and their families have helped the design team to understand the future user needs. That valuable feedback will translate into the creation of their dream library.
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The historic 163-year-old The Ian Potter Queen’s Hall has been restored and has reopened to the public after 16 years.
The space has been stripped back, revealing its former beauty and original paint work, while drawing a modern design line through the Hall and the rest of the library to link rooms together.
State Library Victoria is the ultimate memory institution. Its role as custodian of the past and curator of the future is vital. With new facilities, it will also act as a hub for creation of new knowledge for generations to come, as libraries should.