Swiss Cottage Library
Swiss Cottage Library | |
---|---|
51°32′33″N 0°10′24″W / 51.5424°N 0.1733°W | |
Type | public library |
Established | 10 November 1964 | as Hampstead Central Library
Architect(s) | Basil Spence |
Service area | London Borough of Camden |
Collection | |
Size | 128,650 |
Other information | |
Website | www |
Building details | |
General information | |
Address | 88 Avenue Road London NW3 3HA |
Construction started | 31 December 1962 |
Cost | £200,000 (equivalent to £4.7 million in 2019) |
Owner | London Borough of Camden |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 3 |
Floor area | 5,470 square metres (58,880 sq ft)[1] |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Swiss Cottage Library |
Designated | 2 December 1997 |
Reference no. | 1272259 |
Swiss Cottage Library is a public library in the London Borough of Camden housed in an architectural landmark building on Avenue Road. Designed by Sir Basil Spence of Spence, Bonnington & Collins, it was built between 1963 and 1964.
It replaced the former
The building shows a more open, fluid architectural style compared to other contemporary libraries, with distinct fins revolving around the exterior. Opened by
Background
The
The Library Association reported in 1959 that, whilst hardly any new public library buildings had been built, library usage had risen by 75% since 1939, with most buildings being over 50 years old.[7] Post-war, the British government had prioritised housing and education, resulting in wartime restrictions remaining in force and many libraries being designed for fewer users than needed.[8][7] With additional damage and destruction to other libraries, Hampstead lacked the infrastructure needed for storing and cataloguing media.[6]
History
Founding
Swiss Cottage Library was planned as part of the Hampstead Civic Centre development by the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead in the 1950s, which was originally intended to offer a new master site for Hampstead's governance.
As Hampstead's final major infrastructure project, the original "masterplan" was downgraded to include only a sports centre and a library, per demands from the Greater London Council and central government.[13] Furthermore, the library, which was originally intended to be built next to Winchester Road, was instead moved west to be beside Avenue Road, to accommodate the changes.[3]
Construction was undertaken by McAlpine & Sons and was accelerated by the use of a 164 ft (50 m) tower crane, the tallest in the UK at the time.[14] Construction began on 31 December 1962,[15][16] with the mayor, Luigi Carlo Denza, shovelling the first pile of earth for the site. Succeeding weeks brought difficulties due to unusually heavy snow, leading to concrete needing additional protection. Later building strikes exacerbated the problem, and construction was delayed, but eventually finished in 1964.[14]
Soon after opening the University of Sussex's new library, also by Spence,[17] Queen Elizabeth II opened the library as Hampstead Public Library on 10 November 1964.[18] On opening, the library superseded Finchley Road Library as Hampstead's Central Library.[7] Present, among others, were Councillor Luigi Carlo Denza, then Mayor of Hampstead, Basil Spence and Sir Edwin McAlpine, acting head of the library's construction firm at the time.[14] Its title as Hampstead Central Library was later amended in light of the Hampstead's amalgamation and it was renamed as Swiss Cottage Central Library before its shortened name today.[19]
Refurbishment and expansion
In 1989, Camden reported that the swimming baths were underperforming and that Swiss Cottage Library, then being the largest and most used in the borough, had structural issues that required immediate address, even after remedial works in 1984.[20] The council announced in the late 1990s that it intended to regenerate Swiss Cottage Centre, and in 2003 John McAslan & Partners finished a refurbishment of Swiss Cottage Library to include a children's library and improved accessibility facilities,[9] at a cost of £7.9 million (equivalent to £10.8 million in 2019). The overall centre redevelopment plan, including the demolition of Swiss Cottage Sports Centre (with the swimming baths) and the construction of Sir Terry Farrell's Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre on the demolished site, was finished in 2007 at a cost of £85 million.[9]
Whilst the accompanying sport centre's demolition was not controversial, it removed the library's complementing twin, which was factored into new designs.
When Camden began irreversible works on the library in 1996, the then
In late 1997, English Heritage controversially decided to list the library, against the council's wishes.[26] Camden Council opposed the listing vehemently from its first consideration in early 1996 and the Evening Standard described the building, alongside the Swimming Baths, as a "drab concrete complex", with the Ham & High additionally recording residents as calling the pair the "ugliest buildings in the borough", though most criticism was directed at the baths.[28][29] Local councillors were dismayed and the Council argued it was more important to support private investors in funding a new library through the private finance initiative than the maintenance of a building with chronic issues,[30] whilst others argued listing would encourage a more preservative restoration.[31]
The refurbishment, despite being widely acclaimed, was subject to numerous delays and significantly overbudget, in part a result of the project's primary contractor going into administration; McAslan and Camden's relationship was described as "bumpy".[1] Later in 2006, Camden Council sued McAslan & Partners for £500,000 as a result of delays in supply and a cost increase in the contract by £1.5 million.[32] McAslan defended the delays, arguing "It was less than 10% late", a comparatively small delay in construction, and commenting on additional removals needing to be carried out.[32]
In spite of refurbishments, Camden began a major overhaul of its library service in 2011, looking to cut its budget by £2 million due to falling borrower numbers.[33] Swiss Cottage Library, costing the council £1.2 million per year at the time, was on a list of potential libraries to be closed, with McAslan remarking that the library's closure would be a "tragedy" for the community.[34] The library remained open and underwent a low-carbon retrofit in 2023.[35]
Details
Built in the ubiquitous Modernist style of the 1960s, Spence took inspiration from the vast open-space and minimalism of Scandinavian libraries,[7] visiting them to take notes on the designs.[12][17]
Exterior
The library measures 250 feet (76 m) by 75 feet (23 m) with three storeys, and features 238 narrow 2-tonne "fins" made from a Portland stone aggregate on a pill-shaped structure, resembling the leaves of a book.[18] The fins were designed to protect readers from strong sunlight and additionally block noise pollution,[17][12] whilst the semi-circular structure was reminiscent of some of Spence's earlier home designs.[7] The library's location in Swiss Cottage, described by Spence as the "gateway to North London",[5] was criticised due to significant noise pollution from the arterial Finchley Road that it borders.[10]
The borough council complemented the library by commissioning a bronze sculpture by F. E. McWilliam, titled The Hampstead Figure, as part of the initial stages of landscaping, which was unveiled by the Queen following the library.[36][5]
Interior
Entry is via a semi-circular foyer with the main staircase in front on entrance;
Both the lending and reference libraries retain their unique spiral staircases which in the reference library leads to an upper floor that includes 40 desks.
Commentary
May I say how pleased I am to come here to see these fine buildings[...]
There is ample opportunity to enrich the mind and exercise the body in surroundings as we can all see are architecturally most attractive.
Queen Elizabeth II, Opening Speech[41]
Speaking to thousands at the opening, the Queen acclaimed Spence's library as "really wonderful" and described Hampstead as "so interesting".[42] She heralded the specialised facilities available for readers in the library as well as accessibility measures for the disabled.[41]
The library was viewed positively by reviewers, with many commenting on the fluidity of the library's line work complementing the
In the
The library's refurbishment was acclaimed by English Heritage as "a success in both architectural and heritage terms".[1] Elain Harwood, writing for Historic England, named it as one of the few post-war libraries that had been "sensitively refurbished",[8] and Historic England also highlighted it "amongst the most ambitious architectural designs for a library found anywhere" in its Grade II listing.[46] CILIP, the UK's professional body for librarians, awarded the refurbishment the Public Library Building Award in 2005,[47] and called the refurbishment "sensitive [and] intelligent" in its journal.[48]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h Stungo, Naomi (August 2003). "Tome Capsule". RIBA Journal: 24–32.
- ^ "Illustrations". The American Architect and Building News. Vol. 68, no. 1275. Open Court Publishing Co. 2 June 1900 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ C20 Society.
- ISBN 978-0-8389-1104-4.
- ^ a b c d e Hampstead Civic Centre: Stage 1 (Report). Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead, The Development Committee. 1950s.
- ^ a b Lee, A. E. (1977). Wade, Christopher (ed.). "Saved by Two Minutes". Camden History Review. 5. Camden History Society: 27.
- ^ a b c d e f Black, Alistair (2014). "The design of Swiss Cottage Library". Camden History Review. 38. Camden History Society: 10–14.
- ^ a b Harwood, Elain (2016). "The English Public Library 1945–85". Introductions to Heritage Assets. Historic England. pp. 3, 13.
- ^ ISBN 978-1905286331.
- ^ The Architects' Journal. 129 (3335): 185. 29 January 1959 – via Internet Archive.
- ISBN 9781315592336.
- ^ a b c d Ham & High 1964a, p. 5.
- ^ Brockman, H. A. N. (10 November 1964). "Hampstead Civic Centre: the unfinished symphony". Financial Times. p. 19.
- ^ a b c "Hampstead Civic Centre". The Green Man [magazine of McAlpine & Sons, developers]. January 1965. pp. 1–5.
- ^ LB Camden 1991, p. 3.
- ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ OCLC 251753182.
- ^ ISBN 978-0904491777.
- ^ "Russians bar wife of Brooke: Want deal on Krogers". The Guardian Journal. 28 October 1967. p. 4. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ Future Development of Swiss Cottage Centre (Report). Leisure Services Committee, London Borough of Camden. 14 September 1989. pp. 1–4.
- ISBN 978-1-84166-037-0.
- ^ Historic England (2 December 1997). "Swiss Cottage Library (Grade II) (1272259)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ Ashcroft, Linda (2003). "Tessa Jowell hails LB Camden's Central Library as an excellent example of a "Fit for Purpose" Library". New Library World. 104 (1193): 436–437.
- ^ "Spence library may be listed to halt alterations". Building Design. 23 February 1996. p. 4.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b Bar-Hiller, Mira (28 February 1996). "Heritage lists Severn Bridge and a police station". Evening Standard. p. 5.
- ^ "Chalk and cheese, but both may end up listed". Ham & High. 8 March 1996.
- ^ "Camden eyesore set to gain list status". Ham & High. 23 February 1996.
- ^ "Heritage blocks Swiss Cottage arts centre plan". Camden New Journal. 22 February 1996.
- ^ a b Jackson, Stacey (April 2003). "Did they know what they were letting themselves in for?". Inside Camden. p. 4.
- ^ "Architect's Journal defends 'ugliest' building". Ham & High. 1 March 1996.
- ^ .
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Klettner, Andrea (11 February 2011). "Two landmark library buildings under threat". Building Design (1952): 3 – via EBSCO.
- ^ Carrier, Dan (6 January 2023). "Eco 2023: Swiss Cottage Library, the mission to retrofit an architectural gem". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Concrete Quarterly(63). London.
- ^ a b Library Association Record 1964, p. 508.
- ^ "Library". Architects' Journal. 140 (22): 1245–1255. 25 November 1964 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Maidment, William R. (1 December 1965). "Spencerian Style for Hampstead". Library Journal.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b Ham & High 1964a, p. 2.
- ^ Ham & High 1964a, p. 1.
- ^ Library Association Record 1964, p. 509.
- ^ Ham & High 1964b, p. 5.
- ^ Library Association Record 1964, p. 504.
- ^ Historic England. "Swiss Cottage Library (1272259)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ Dewe 2009, p. 10.
- ^ Harper, Philippa (July 2006). "Library design has arrived". CILIP Update.
- Sources
- Swiss Cottage Sports Centre and Library: investigation and assessment of the primary structure of the buildings with options and recommendations for the future (Report). Leisure Services Committee, London Borough of Camden. 25 June 1991.
- "New library for Hampstead". Library Association Record. 66: 502–509. December 1964.
- "The Queen's Comment: It's Wonderful: Royal opening of new baths and library". Hampstead & Highgate Express. No. 5425. 13 November 1964a.
- "Letters to the editor: For and against the civic centre". Hampstead & Highgate Express. No. 5426. 20 November 1964b.
- Dewe, Michael (2009). Renewing our libraries: case studies in re-planning and refurbishment. Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-7339-2– via Internet Archive.
† Many of these resources are solely available from Holborn Library.
Further reading
- Black, Alistair (2017). "Hampstead Central Library: into the light". Libraries of Light (1st ed.). ISBN 9781315592336.
External links
- Media related to Swiss Cottage Library at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- grid reference TQ275841