The New Public Library Design Innovation for the Twenty-First Century

• Main Author: Hille, R. Thomas (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: New York Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group 2019
• Subjects: Library buildings > Design and construction; Library buildings > Pictorial works > Design and construction; Public libraries; Public libraries > Pictorial works; Library buildings > History; Library buildings > Pictorial works > History; Library architecture > History; Library architecture > Pictorial works > History
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.

 The New Public Library is an in-depth design study of an exemplary collection of recent public libraries, and the historical precedents that have informed and inspired their development. An introductory overview presents seven critical themes that characterize public library design, past and present, highlighting the expressive architectural potential of this unique and important building type. A survey of over 40 historically significant libraries traces the development of the building type over time, with a primary focus on precedents from the US and northern Europe, where the modern public library originated, and its design has been most comprehensively developed. A selection of nearly 50 contemporary projects from the past 30 years focuses on the most current developments in public library design, with a diverse and varied collection of work by over 35 regional, national, and international design firms. Highly visual in its presentation, the study includes 885 color photographs and illustrations, and 195 scale drawings.