Eco-building design is now a well-established discipline with municipalities and education organisations the world over taking the opportunity to embrace eco-design principles when building their libraries. The eco-design approach coincides with a more community-minded concern in regard to library design; a view where use of the space by the community takes precedence over conservation of physical items. Eco-Library Design showcases 22 examples from the past decade that address all the requirements of a modern library and adheres to eco-design principles, contributing a comprehensive collection of twenty-first century public building concerns and solutions.
John Flannery notes that the modern eco-library is understood in diverse ways around the world. It may be “eco” through use of sustainable materials or the reuse of materials; it may be an emphasis on working with a harsh environment to provide comfort in the midst of that environment; or it can be the use of natural vegetation within the building. He highlights how the projects featured in the book all “demonstrate a determination to reduce energy and water consumption whilst eliminating the wasteful use of resources” (p. 4), whether they are small buildings made from salvaged materials to provide a haven for a poverty-stricken community or a city’s deliberate plan to showcase best practice in technologically advanced building design.
The 22 projects are grouped by the type of building: new build, adaptive re-use or a hybrid construction. Each project is a unique solution to the specific requirements of the local community and the environment in which the building exists. Projects range from a tiny library built on a flood plain with a total budget of US$4,500 and help from the local community, to a 139,990 square foot academic library on a large campus in an arid environment. Each project has a set of aspirations to strive for and limitations to work within, and each is a triumphant example of technology and creativity combining to achieve these aims with elegance and beauty.
The Customs House building in Sydney, Australia, is a prime example of carefully considered re-use of an historic building. Much of the building houses a branch of the City of Sydney public library network, with the ground floor described by the architects, Lacoste and Stevenson, as “a living room for Sydney” (p. 134). This concern is a theme throughout the projects: the needs of the community remain the central focus regardless of how ambitious or challenging the design aims are. Maybe this is why these projects are so successful; many have won or been nominated for eco, architectural or engineering awards.
Each project is introduced with a historical description or a local anecdote, a clever device that provides immediate context and relevant background for the reader. Vital information about the library customer population, geographic coordinates, site elevation, temperature, precipitation and humidity is summarised in a text box.
Tough environmental conditions, specific community needs, energy goals and other challenges are outlined. As well as text, concept sketches, site and building plans, elevations and thermodynamic or structural diagrams are included for most projects, and technical details such as thermal ratings, energy-saving targets and clever solutions to issues, such as too little or too much light, are also included. This makes the book a satisfying read; I found the technical information very interesting and completely accessible. Much more and I may be baffled less and I would wonder why the book was titled the way it was, although undoubtedly architects and engineers will be keen for a lot more information. A discussion about the planning and building process, particularly in regard to how conflicts between sustainability and use were resolved would have been informative. John Flannery and Karen Smith have published a number of books about architecture, and the focus on libraries designed with eco-principles is a welcome addition to the series. I was left only with a desire to read more and would have enjoyed a more glossy publication – the images certainly deserve it.
