Library 1

ARCHITECTS PLAN FOR LIBRARY JOB

27-06-2008

While campaigners battle to preserve John Madin’s 1970s Central Library in Birmingham, seven distinguished architects are already drawing up plans for a replacement building in Centenary Square – and we can whet your appetite with a glimpse of what they've already achieved...

The £193 million Brum budget marks this as one of the biggest civic cultural commissions in the UK, and  will include a new shared foyer and auditorium with The Rep.

A winning architect will be chosen by the official selection panel this summer, with the final design due to be complete by autumn 2009. Building work is scheduled to begin in 2010 and an official opening scheduled for 2013.

Here are the architects and "one they made earlier :

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

UK based practice whose designs include the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool, Singapore Gardens by the Bay and The Gateshead Millennium Bridge – which currently features on the new £1 coin.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

This Danish practice’s portfolio includes City of Westminster College’s Paddington Centre, University of Aberdeen New Library and the ‘Black Diamond’ extension of the Royal Library in Copenhagen.

Mecanoo

The National Kaohsiung Performing Arts Center in Taiwan is one of Netherlands-based Mecanoo’s futuristic visions alongside the Learning Center for the École Polytechnique in Lausanne which revolves at 15 degrees per hour.

OMA

Amongst the glamorous pages of Netherlands practice OMA’s back catalogue are Casa da Musica in Portugal, Prada’s Epicentre in Los Angeles and the redevelopment of the iconic Commonwealth Institute in Kensington and Chelsea.

Foreign Office Architects

This UK-based practice started in style with the construction of a £200 million International Ferry Terminal in Yokohama, Japan.  They are currently undertaking the masterplanning for the £4 billion London 2012 Olympic Park.

Hopkins Architects

Traditionally British practice whose portfolio includes such significant buildings as the Mound Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Forum in Norwich, and ten times award-winning Jubilee Campus in Nottingham.

Foster + Partners

Lord Foster’s leading UK practice Foster + Partners have designed such icons as the new Wembley Stadium, the “Gherkin”, and Stansted, Hong Kong International and Beijing Capital International airports.