Bairnsdale Library

The rejuvenated Bairnsdale Library celebrates and enhances the social, cultural and environmental significance of an existing heritage asset. A holistic design approach which engaged the community and focused on functional, environmental and aesthetic design to contribute to reduced construction and operational costs.

Project Details

Architects
NOWarchitecture

Award
Commendation Category 3: Renovation/ Modernisation/ Over $2m

Address
22 Service Street Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875 Australia

Submitter
NOWarchitecture

Cost
$ 3,500,000

Photographer
Hin Lim Photography

Project Overview

The modern library is a place to support community and life-long learning, a social hub connecting to a world-wide and region-wide network of knowledge. The rejuvenated Bairnsdale Library refocuses community learning in Bairnsdale and East Gippsland, celebrates the history of the site and region, and integrates innovative, responsive environmental design.

Patrons of all generations enjoy a wide range of spaces to suit their needs: students can study in individual or group settings, older patrons can enjoy print media or digital media with IT facilities, parents and young children can share a playful and safe indoor/outdoor space, community members can convene in a variety of meeting/training rooms and patrons can research local history within an archival standard space. Since the re-opening of the Library, membership has doubled and usage has tripled.  

The Library features outdoor reading spaces, a community plaza incorporating a projection screen for outdoor theatre and public information, and a transparent facade that visually connects the activity within and the environment outside. The Library integrates the needs of the mobile library services expanding access to shared information into the broader region.  

Built in 1889, the Mechanics Institute provided a place for community learning and public events. Refurbishing and repairing the original hall has restored it to its former glory. Now serving as the reading room, mobile shelving for the library’s collection rolls away for weekend social events and exhibitions adding bonus Community-use options unavailable elsewhere in town, and an opportunity to experience the grand heritage hall at its original scale.

NOWarchitecture’s holistic design approach is fundamental to reducing construction, operational and energy costs. An innovative passive hydrothermal air conditioning system provides pre-cooled air by thermal exchange and utilises 58,000 litres of harvested stormwater stored in underground tanks. Thermal chimneys further passively moderate interior temperature.

To limit secondary finishes, self-shading metal cladding, breathable BionicTile® cladding which destroys harmful gases from car exhausts, and exposed concrete floors for thermal mass were used. Sculptural timber stairways and CAD/CAM prefabricated exposed, joinery quality LVL structure are tributes to the region’s rich timber history.

Juror’s Comments

The Bairnsdale Library had undergone poor 1970’s alterations resulting in a steady decline in usage. Obtaining community support was paramount as previous architectural concepts were met with a hostile and frustrated community.

The way NOWarchitecture managed the design process, interaction with Council staff and informing the community, often under severe time constraints, is to be commended, particularly as it resulted in restoring community trust in the Council and confidence in the design. It was very apparent that the intense consultation with staff made a significant difference to the workflow and spatial relationships but not always clear how community consultations informed the conceptual design.

The Jury appreciated the architect’s incorporation of many environmental elements and their ability to restore to civic prominence the existing heritage building and integrating it into the new library design. This was assisted by the orientation of the new addition in such a way as to showcase the restored 1889 building, thus creating a fabulous public courtyard and other outdoor learning areas.

Overall, a very well thought through library project which has re-engaged all age groups back into the library and creating a community facility of which Bairnsdale can be proud. Congratulations to NOWarchitecture and Bairnsdale