Architecture for the Community at the Surry Hills Library

GenCept

by GenCept | June 02, 2010

This library, located in Surry Hills, Australia, shows how important it is to have the participation of those who will use the space after the construction of a project. The architects from the FJMT office decided that for this project, the community would be participating in several decisions, which resulted in a gorgeous and totally usable building.

The first idea was that community would like to have something beyond a simple library. The construction should be a place where everyone could share some activity. So they managed to host a library, a community center and even a child care for the neighborhood's children, showing the importance of having activities like these in one place.

And to complete, the architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp put a lot of wisdom in certain choices, such as the use of transparency as a way of inviting the public into the building just as enabling a new way of viewing the neighborhood to those inside. The concern about he materials, to maintain an internal cooling of all spaces make this project a great inspiration to all of us who like architecture.

The Centre has been designed to achieve excellence in sustainable design and set new high standards in environmental performance for multi-purpose public buildings. [It] will be a starting point for the development of a green rating system for public buildings… [and] an innovative example of design and sustainable design possibilities. — Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP

The 10 Staduims of the 2010 World Cup
© John Gollings

This innovative new building provides specific services tailored to community needs and includes an integrated local library, community centre and child care centre. - FJMT