Library Buildings Designs: Architecture
Major Contemporary Architectural Developments from around the world.
post updated 13 November 2026
The Editors at e-architect select what we feel are the most important examples of Library Buildings. e-architect cover completed buildings, new building designs and architecture competitions across the world.
The website focus is on contemporary Library buildings but information on traditional buildings is also welcome.
Library Buildings
We have 3 pages of Library Architecture selections with links to hundreds of individual project pages.
Library Buildings : architecture news + key projects (this page)
Library Building Designs : A-K
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Do We Need Library Buildings?
Do We Really Need Libraries Anymore?
Article by Adrian Welch, Senior Architect, for GAJ Dubai
May 2018
“Libraries are the thin red line between civilization and barbarism.” Author Neil Gaiman
“Back in my school days I was a regular visitor to the library, but when was the last time I visited a library to borrow a book? It must be over two decades ago, so clearly I don’t value libraries. But I do, I think, just somehow they have slipped me by.”
Do We Need Libraries?
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Feb 13, 2018
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World, Providence, RI, USA
Design: Anmahian Winton Architects
photo © Warren Jagger
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World
The Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University occupies Rhode Island Hall, a historic Greek Revival building at the center of the campus green. AW restored the building’s beloved exterior and re-animated the interior with a new program and design vocabulary to create this endowed teaching and research facility.
3 Feb 2018
The Archive House, Ipark, Ullandhaug, Stavanger, south western Norway
Design: Lund+Slaatto Architects
photo © Sindre Ellingsen
The Archive House, Stavanger
This building has been imaginatively designed to provide a 14,000 sqm cultural research centre which includes a café, library, meeting room and exhibition area. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was selected for the exterior cladding of the Archive House to create an eye-catching geometric ‘folded’ façade.
24 Mar 2018
Clare County Library, Ennis, Co. Clare, Republic of Ireland
Design: Keith Williams Architects
image courtesy of architects
New Library Building in County Clare
The new 2,300m2 project for client Clare County Council, has been conceived as a new cultural hub for the town and the region. It will abut the town’s existing Glór Theatre (2001) adding the new County Library and a small contemporary Art Gallery.
15 Jan 2018
Museum of Language London Architecture Contest
Museum of Language London Design Competition by archasm
Carl Sandburg has accurately described language as the most indispensable tool in the life of us social animals, men. Men have traversed through ages and grown into the most superior race on Earth because of their advanced linguistic and communication skills.
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Library Buildings News 2013 to 2017
11 Dec 2017
University of Bristol Library, Southwest England, UK
Design: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Hawkins\Brown
image Courtesy architecture office
New University of Bristol Library
A new £80m library development is to be built at the heart of the University of Bristol’s Clifton Campus. The building design will be by British architecture studio Hawkins\Brown and the Danish practice Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects to work with renowned British engineering firm BuroHappold.
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5 Jan 2016
Public Library Varna, Bulgaria
Design: spatial practice, architects
image from architect
Public Library Varna
Varna Public Library Design Competition entry shortlisted in third place, our of 370 entries.
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3 Oct 2013
Jaime Garcia Terres Library, Mexico City
Design: arquitectura 911sc
photo : Jaime Navarro
Jaime Garcia Terres Library
This architectural project is part of the ‘City of Books’, a project by the Mexican Secretary of Culture to acquire the personal book collections of the most relevant Mexican writers and intellectuals of the 20th Century and commissioning architects the design of each personal library to be housed within La Ciudadela, an 18th Century building in the central part of Mexico City.
5 Sep 2013
Library of Birmingham, England, Uk
Design: Mecanoo
photo : Christian Richters
Library of Birmingham
Centenary Square, the largest public square in the heart of Birmingham, currently lacks cohesion or a clear identity or atmosphere. Mecanoo’s design transforms the square into one with three distinct realms: monumental, cultural and entertainment.
4 Sep 2013
BnL Bibliothèque Nationale de Luxembourg
Design: BOLLES+WILSON
model photograph © Tomasz Samek
BnL Bibliothèque Nationale de Luxembourg
The planned BnL, with its new and optimized program, addresses the Boulevard with an inviting, transparent and representative conical facade that metaphorically sucks visitors deep into the interior. Above the entrance and behind the inwardly sloping facade are conference rooms (bridging the entrance foyer).
9 Aug 2013
Bayuquan Library Yingkou Plaza, Liaoning Province, north east China
Design: SH-DSD
photo from architect
Bayuquan Library Yingkou Plaza
Bayuquan library is another project designed by DSD in Bayuquan near Bayuquan Theatre. The library is mainly made up of 3 parts including the basement block containing 2 levels, the cantilever (3rd floor) and the connection.
19 Jul 2013
Municipal Library Setúbal, Portugal
Design: Jordana Tomé + Filipe Oliveira + Vitor Quaresma
image from architects
Municipal Library Setúbal
The Project designed by the architects Jordana Tomé, Filipe Oliveira and Vitor Quaresma was awarded with the first prize in the Public Competition for the Elaboration of the Project for Setúbal’s Municipal Library.
26 Apr 2013
Dalian Library Building, China
Design: Preston Scott Cohen, Inc.
image from architect
Dalian Library
Datong Library aims to resolve the tension between the two major roles of a central library: as a place of community promenade and gathering and as an archive of knowledge and quite place of study. The form of the building embodies this tension, centering on a reflected pair of exceptional spaces.
8 Apr 2013
New Central Library in Berlin, Germany
Design: Kubota & Bachmann Architects + Martinez
image : Jigen
New Library Building Berlin
This is a building proposal for the Berlin Central Library, strategically sited within the city next to the new Tempelhoff Park. The new library building should be viewed as a point of departure and is directly associated to the city’s commitment to future urban development within this area.
4 Apr 2013
New Maranello Library, Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy
Design: Andrea Maffei Architects
photo : Alessandra Chemollo
Maranello Library Building
This library building replaces an ex industrial warehouse maintaining the perimeter walls. The typical idea of the classic library is changed in an organic transparent shape put inside the original perimeter of the industrial building.
19 Mar 2013
Ballyroan Library Building, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Design: Box Architecture
photo : Paul Tierney
Ballyroan Library Building
The original library building was built in the 1980’s and served the community well over the past decades. However the library became outdated, in need of upgrading and became too small to deal with the collection of resources available to the community for reference or borrowing.
13 Feb 2013
University of Helsinki City Campus Library, Finland
Anttinen Oiva arkkitehdit Oy – aoa
photo : Mika Huisman
University of Helsinki City Campus Library
The new library building – the largest academic library in Finland – complements the urban block by adding a curved brick facade, integrated within the street line formed by the adjacent buildings. This imposing building in the centre of the city “provides a gateway to the new information age”.
25 Jan 2013
Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn, Sweden
Design: schmidt hammer lassen architects
picture from architects
Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn
The New Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn, Sweden, is designed to gather the city’s cultural functions under one roof. schmidt hammer lassen architects has just won an international competition to design this 5,000 square metre cultural centre.
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7 Nov 2012
Brentwood Library, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Design: Diamond Schmitt Architects
image from architects
Brentwood Library
This building has re-opened following a two-year renovation and expansion designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The updated library adds 30 percent more public service, collection and staff space configured on a tight site in the suburb of Etobicoke.
7 Nov 2012
Marne-la-Vallée University Library, Paris, France
Design: Beckmann-N’Thépé Agency
photo © Olivier Amsellem
Marne-la-Vallée University Library
The architects chose an audacious strategy for the design of this new building, which resembles a mound of earth ‘torn from its natural environment,’ in harmony with its surroundings. ‘Between naturalism and terror, ‘the Marne-la-Vallée Library puts us in touch with our dreams – active, joyous, sometimes disturbing, comforting, but always salutary’.
4 Oct 2012
Book Mountain – Spijkenisse Public Library, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Design: MVRDV
picture : Jeroen Musch
Spijkenisse Public Library
Today Spijkenisse Book Mountain and the adjacent residential neighbourhood will be opened by Prinses Laurentien of the Netherlands. Manifesting itself clearly as a mountain of books on the town’s market square, the architecture is both an advertisement and an invitation for reading.
20 Jul 2012
LiYuan Library, near Beijing, China
Design: Li Xiadong／Atelier
photograph from architects
Chinese Library Building
This architecture project is modest addition to the small village of Huairou on the outskirts of Beijing, just under a two hours drive from busy Beijing urban life. On the one hand it forms a modern programmatic complement to the village by adding a small library and reading space within a setting of quiet contemplation.
16 Jul 2012
Médiathèque Romain Rolland, Paris, France
Design: Philippe Gazeau architecte
photograph : Philippe Ruault
picture : Philippe Ruault
Médiathèque Romain Rolland
The Romainville multimedia library building is located in the heart of a dormitory town that is being completely renovated. The architecture floats between two ‘flying carpets’.
11 Apr 2012
The Hive, Worcester, England
Design: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
photograph © Hufton+Crow
Library Building Worcester
The UK’s first purpose-built joint-use library building. The Hive which will serve the University of Worcester and the county that incorporates the county archive, a local history centre, accommodation for the County Archaeologist’s team and a ‘one stop shop’ for the local authority.
6 Apr 2012
MedaTeca Building, near Milan, Lombardy, northern Italy
Design: Alterstudio Partners
MedaTeca Building
“This is MedaTeca: a contemporary architecture whose design, materials, façades colours and the large full-length windows that give onto the road, convey the public vocation of the building. The spaces are bright and comfortable, with double-height rooms and views between a floor and the other, furnished with pieces of the best Italian and International design and others especially designed by the architects.”
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Library Building Designs Archive
12 Feb 2012
Biblioteca Central UAEM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Design: REC Arquitectura Y Construccion
Biblioteca Central UAEM
The building complex is conceived in sub elements, each element rationally positioned and connected to one another with three generating ideas: culture, cultivation and domesticity.
26 Jan 2012
Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Design: H2o architects, Collingwood
Melbourne Library Building
Following a decade of modest local development, the Victorian Government proposed a new community resource combining an existing former school gymnasium with a new library and learning centre. This presented the opportunity for a significant, easily found and adventurous building reflecting community cultural aspirations.
10 Jan 2012
Taltal Public Library, Chile
Design: Murúa-Valenzuela
photo © macarenaalvarez
Biblioteca Pública Taltal
The project to design the new public library building arose from a public competition process petitioned by the Municipality of Taltal in 2008. This building design received the first place selection.
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6 Dec 2011
Tianjin Binhai Library, China
Design: KDG group, INC
image from KDG group
Tianjin Library Building
Architecture competition – a proposal for redefining the appearance of the Tianjin Binhai Library, an existing four-story building situated on the bank of a river. The building is the center for this new development area, and the landmark for the waterfront walk.
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Library Architecture – Key Projects
Key Contemporary Architecture + Building Projects, alphabetical:
Aarhus Library Building, Denmark
schmidt hammer lassen architects
image from architecture studio
Abbeyleix Library, Ireland
Design: DeBlacam & Meagher
Abbeyleix Library
Biblioteca a la placa Lesseps, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Design: Josep Llinás, Architect
Lesseps Library building, Barcelona
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
Snohetta Architecture
photo from Snøhetta Architects
Alexandria Library Building
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, France
Dominique Perrault Architects
photo © Adrian Welch
Bibliothèque Nationale
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Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Birmingham Library : Architecture Contest, England, UK
Mecanoo Architecten
photograph from Mecanoo
Birmingham Library building, UK
British Library building, London, UK
Design: Colin St John Wilson
photo © Adrian Welch
British Library Building
City Library Helmond, The Netherlands
Bolles+Wilson
City Library Helmond
Czech National Library, Prague, Czech Republic
Future Systems Architects
picture from architect
Czech National Library – design competition
Deichman Library, Norway
Atelier Oslo / LundHagem Architects
Deichman Library Architecture Competition
Enfield Town Library, London, England, UK
Shepheard Epstein Hunter
Enfield Library Building
Fribourg Library Building, Switzerland
Atelier Kempe Thill
Fribourg Library Design
Halmstad Library, Sweden
schmidt hammer lassen
Halmstad Library building
Hockessin Public Library, Delaware, USA
Design: ikon.5 architects
photo © James D’Addio
Hockessin Library Building
Hollola Library, Finland
Arkkitehdit NRT
Hollola Library
John Rylands Library, Manchester, England
Basil Champneys Architect
John Rylands Library
José Vasconcelos Library, Mexico City
Pascal Arquitectos
Jose Vasconcelos Public Library design
King Abdulaziz Center, Saudi Arabia
Snøhetta
image : MIR
King Abdulaziz Library design proposal
Kirkwood Public Library, Delaware, USA
Design: ikon.5 architects
Kirkwood Library Building
Law Library at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, UK
Design: Foster + Partners
Cambridge Law Library Building
This modern structure on The Backs was apparently nicknamed by some Cambridge students as the ‘Bread Bin’. This rather stark Foster building contains the ‘relocated’ Squire Law library with generous atrium, five auditoria and offices.
Library España, Colombia
Design: Giancarlo Mazzanti Architect
photo : Sergio Gómez
Biblioteca Pública Santo Domingo
The program asked for a building with library, training rooms, an administration and an auditorium on a sole building. The proposal fragmented the program in three groups.
Library of the Future, Kortrijk, Belgium
Design: REX
image © Luxigon courtesy REX
Kortrijk Library design
The city of Kortrijk sought to create a library that would combine the functions of a traditional central library with a Life-Long Learning Center and bring in the city’s Music Center as an equal partner. The new combination was named the “LLLibrary.”
MedaTeca Building, near Milan, northern Italy
Design: Alterstudio Partners
MedaTeca Building, Lombardy
Open-Air-Library, Magdeburg, Germany
Design: KARO*
photo : Anja Schlamann
Open-Air-Library Magdeburg
Port Pirie Community Library Building, South Australia
Design: Kirkbride Boyce Architects
building photo from architect
Port Pirie Library Building
Royal Library extension, Copenhagen, Denmark
Design: Schmidt, Hammer & Lassen, Architects
photo : Ralph Richter
Sort Diamant : nicknamed the ‘Black Diamond’
Saint-Laurent Library Building, Canada
Design: various architects
picture from Client
Saint-Laurent Library Building
Seattle Public Library, Washington, USA
Design: Rem Koolhaas Architects / OMA
photo : Philippe Ruault
Seattle Public Library Building
Seville University Library, Spain
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects
picture from architect
Seville University Library
Shenzhen University Town Library, Shenzhen, China
Design: RMJM Architects
Shenzhen University library
Søgne Library and city hall, Norway
a-lab, Architects
picture : a-lab
Søgne City Hall
Stockholm Library Design, Sweden
Winner: Heike Hanada
image from AAC organisers
Stockholm Library building Competition
Surry Hills Library Building, NSW, Australia
Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
image : John Gollings courtesy by FJMT
Surry Hills Library Building
Turku City Library, Finland
JKMM Architects
photo : Arno de la Chapelle
Turku City Library Building
Waalse Krook Gent, Gent, Belgium
UNStudio
image © Mir_www.mir.no
Zonnebeke Library, Flanders, Belgium
Wim Supply Architect
photograph : Jan Theuninck
Zonnebeke Library
More new buildings + architecture projects online soon.
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Library Buildings – No Images
Key Library Architecture A-Z, alphabetical:
Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France
1868
Henri Labrouste
Birchfield Library, Birmingham, England
2007-
Cottrell & Vermeulen Architects
Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge, UK
1934
Giles Gilbert Scott
Centennial Hills Library, Las Vegas, Nevada. USA
2009
URS Corporation
Chongqing Library, Chongqing, China
2007
Perkins Eastman
Fuencarral public library, Spain
1998
Andrés Perea Ortega
Irvine Science Library, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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James Stirling Michael Wilford and Associates Ltd with IBI Group
National Library of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2005-
Bolles-Wilson
Architecture competition winner
New Queens Library, New York, USA
2010-
Design: Steven Holl Architects
New Queens Library
Peckham Library, London, UK
1999
Alsop & Stormer
Peckham Library : Stirling Prize winner 2000
Salt Lake City Main Public Library, Utah, USA
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Moshe Safdie Architects
Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver Library, Barcelona, Spain
2007
RCR Arquitectes
incl. Senior Citizens Day Centre
State public library, Granada, Spain
1995
Andrés Perea Ortega
Stockholm Library, Sweden
1927
Erik Gunnar Asplund
Tokyo University Library, Japan
2007
Shigeru Ban
Viana do Castelo – Library, northern Portugal
2007
Alvaro Siza Architects
Viipuri Library (Vyborg), Russia
1932
Alvar Aalto
More contemporary architecture projects online soon.
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Library Architecture Links
Birmingham Library Competition
Peckham Library, London : Stirling Prize winner 2000 – major architecture prize
National Library of Scotland Building
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Architecture Design
Contemporary Building Designs – recent architectural selection from e-architect below:
Comments / photos for the Contemporary Library Architecture Designs page welcome.