Glasgow Women’s Library officially opened
December 21 2015
Redeveloped by Collective Architecture the new library provides a home for a growing reference collection of books in addition to offering space for events, screenings, talks, exhibitions and support services.
In a statement the practice said: “Collective Architecture worked closely with the Glasgow Women's Library to develop informal reading spaces and an open plan mezzanine area, with new lift access, within the former Main Reading Room. The Reading Room is located above a new ground floor cafe and kitchen and a space for exhibitions. A major requirement was for a new strong room archive, designed over two levels at the rear of the gallery. This houses the permanent collections, as well as special pieces of display which required to be climatically controlled to ensure their survival.”
New additions to the historic library include an exterior lift tower doubling as a feature art work with CNC cut cladding incorporating selected book titles.
Photography by Keith Hunter
The 1903 building suffered from rot and insufficient load bearing walls
The library is the only museum dedicated to women's history in the UK
The project was overseen by Maxi Construction and hub West Scotland
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6 Comments
#1 Posted by Fraser on 21 Dec 2015 at 22:51 PM
Fantastic development, well done collective!
#2 Posted by Yaldy on 22 Dec 2015 at 08:17 AM
Love everything about this, nice one
#3 Posted by David on 22 Dec 2015 at 09:05 AM
Very nice indeed, and great to see an old building successfully brought back to life.
The marriage between the original features and the new insertions works really well.
The marriage between the original features and the new insertions works really well.
#4 Posted by RJB on 22 Dec 2015 at 15:01 PM
Nice project , through its a shame the lift tower has lost the lightness it had in concept drawings.
#5 Posted by qmd on 22 Dec 2015 at 16:22 PM
perhaps they should spend some money to clean up the listed building, no?
#6 Posted by Fraser on 22 Dec 2015 at 18:36 PM
I don't think the condition of the original building is that bad, rather the opposite intact. The main place of comment I think should be pointed towards the additions and interior
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