Butetown Community Library

Public library to Reduce Social Exclusion, Improve Information Access and eEmployability

Access to information is one of the fundamental human rights associated with freedom of expression and the right to ‘seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers.

There is a significant number of people with lower socio-economic backgrounds in Butetown, Cardiff, especially after the course of the pandemic. Research has shown that libraries are not only beneficial to the lower socioeconomic groups, but also provides access to information and knowledge which helps dealing with unemployment rates and improve social mobility within the community. Considering that approximately 60% of the lower socio-economic group in Butetown do not have access to a public library, this project aims to reduce social exclusion regarding the right of access to information by providing the community an inclusive library that encourage its usage towards excluded groups, helping them to reconnect to society.

The library features workshops for skills development and career counselling to improve local social mobility by providing them requisite knowledge and employability skills. The zone is a collaborative space which promotes the importance of teamwork and communication and is located on the ground floor present to attract the locals and change their impressions

Everyone in the community has the right to freedom of expression

Inclusive library service that refocuses the requirements of working and non-working class

Library proposal as a means to promote social equality and justice

Collaborative space which engages conversation to encourage discussion

Access to appropriate and relevant genres of printed materials which respond to the need of endusers

Customised reading space for individuals according to their personal preferences

Services which aim provide requisite knowledge and answered the community enquiries

Counselling zone dedicated for the local who has suffered from the unemployment issue

Guest speakers, volunteers from the community, who would hold workshops and retraining programmes for the interested group

The presence of the library scheme would encourage all-age users, including children and young adults by introducing them to the new concept of library

The land pattern close to the community includes career-supporting enterprises (No.1-2) that strive to promote Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing local business space, financial support, and counselling services within a 50-meter radius. This region is adjacent to public transportation, including bus and railway and hence the location is accessible to the city centre.

Timber Flat Roof with Parapet

Section Details

4 mm. thickness Translucent Polycarbonate Panel, SUN GLAZE : Solar Control by PALRAM INDUSTRIES LTD

60 x 60 mm. @ 560 mm. span, Fire-coated Square Oak Sawn Post

Polycabonated Roof Frame Clip by PALRAM INDUSTRIES LTD

Parapet Cap Flashing

Fully-Adhered Waterproof Membrane

50 x 45 mm. Fixing Batten

9 mm. OSB

50 x 110 mm. Wall Plate

50 x 150 mm. TImber Stop Batten

Vapour Control Layer

90 mm. thickness PIR Insulation Board, Crown-Fix Flat Roof Board by Celotex

15 mm. OSB Deck

75 x 220 mm.@ 500 mm. span, Sawn Oak Joist

15 mm. Ceiling Plaster Board

15 mm. Wall Plaster Board

150 x 300 mm. Sawn Oak Beam

150 mm. length, ø 6 mm. Pozidriv Stainless Steel Wood Screw, Fixes every 150 mm. R-2 mm , T-3 mm. 2 mm. thickness White Perforated

Galvanised Steel Sheet

102.5 x 65 x 215 mm. UK Standard Size, density 2000 kg/m2, K-BRIQ (Recycled Brick) by KENOTEQ

TPU Film Breather Membrane by Novia®

50 mm. Air Cavity

VC4000 FR Reflective Vapour Control Layer by Novia®

15 mm. Timber Stud Work Plywood

110 mm. thickness GA4000 PIR Insulation Board by Celotex

50 x 110 mm. Double Timber Top Plate

15 mm. Plasterboard 85 x 2800 mm, 20 mm. thickness, Square Edge

English Oak Floor

75 x 220 mm.@ 575 mm. span, Sawn Oak Joist

200 mm. thickness ,Glass Wool Floor Insulation by URSA 10 Diverso

Loft Roll.

Stainless Retaining Clip

4 sets of 20 mm. ø Bolts and Nuts, Hex Head Setscrews (M20) 75 x 220 mm. Sawn Oak Rim Joist

160 x 220 x 400 mm. Supporting Timber Block, Fixes every 1500 mm.

Reinforced Concrete Footing.

Dampproof Course, min.150 mm. above external ground level

200 x 150 x 50 mm. Foundation Block

25 mm. thickness Floor Slab Perimeter Insulation by Celotex:GA4000

200 mm. thickness GA4000 PIR Insulation Board by Celotex

Concrete Floor Slab

Compact Sand Hardcore Mix

Note

Wall insulation should be installed level with or above the top of the roof insulation.

Roof insulation should tightly abut the inner face of the parapet wall Turn up vapour control layer at edge of roof insulation, lap with roof waterproofing layer, and seal

Air Barrier connects between the ceiling and the wall linings. Continuity of the air barrier through the floor zone

Seal between the wall and floor air barrier

Floor insulation must tightly abut the inner face of the concrete block

Continuous Thermal Insulation Layer

Reduces heat loss from thermal bridge which create paths of least resistance to heat transfers, which affects the overall thermal performance of the building.

Thermal Insulation

Maintains comfortable indoor climate and reduces heat transfer (via radiation, convection and conduction) within the building. This means preventing excessive heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter

Breather Membrane

Located in the inner masonry skin (no. 19) or the cold side of the building to vent moisture from penetrating into the stud frame. Its air-permeable characteristic helps prevent interstitial condensation which occurs due to temperature difference.

Vapour Control Layer

Located in the outer part of the timber frame system (no. 7) or the warmer surface of building to prevent penetration of moist air and to maintain a moderate level of moisture within the air cavity (no. 21). This significantly reduces the damage on structural timbers.

Air Barrier

An enclosed boundary that controls and separates airflow between indoor air (conditioned space) and outdoor air (unconditioned space).