The London Library St James’s, London

CLIENT

THE LONDON LIBRARY

COMPLETION DATE

OCTOBER 2013

ADDITIONAL PHASES ONGOING

Founded by Thomas Carlyle in 1841, The London Library is the world’s largest independent lending library. The Library is located in St James’s Square in a complex amalgam of six Grade II listed buildings dating back to the 1890s. Haworth Tompkins were appointed to oversee the latest expansion of the Library in 2004, and continue to work with the Library on a series of phased projects.

Our initial masterplan began with an analysis of the identity, capacity and future needs of the Library, from which proposals were developed to extend the existing facilities whilst upgrading the existing accommodation and improving the circulation and accessibility. The phased works included an expansion into TS Eliot House, a contiguous building in Masons Yard, followed by extensive renovation and new-build work. This provided 42 new reader spaces, 1.25km of new shelving, and new designated rooms for the Art Collection, Times Collection, Periodicals and Societies Collection, as well as improved circulation, re-modelling of the main Issue Hall and the creation of a new members entrance from Mason’s Yard. The design develops a contemporary architectural language that responds to the character and idiosyncrasies of an historic institution. The scheme respects the strengths and character of the existing fabric, successfully fusing this with the contemporary functions and technologies essential to a modern library.

SELECTED AWARDS

RIBA NATIONAL AWARD

NEW LONDON AWARD

AIA UK EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN

AWARD