Free University - Foster and Partners Berlin Libary
Sir Norman Foster and Partners developed this very interesting Library in Berlin. It has a wonderful translucent to the building. The light that is emitted by the roofs opening is limpid and soft. This contrasts to the firm mechanical quality of its structure. This aspects combined with the organic form create a great experience of space. My understanding from the journals at this time was that this was all done on quite a slim budget.
It should also be noted that in addition to providing even light for reading it does something many contemporary libraries seem to neglect: It blocks the UV light preventing it from destroying the books in the collection. More info can be found in this excellent paper by KLAUS U. WERNER, MONIKA DIECK (link) The figures below are lifted from this paper (pdf).
Facts & figures:
Architects: Foster and Partners Competition 1997 Start library site work 2001 Date of completion Dec. 2004
Net floor Area: 6290 m2 (64 m long / 19 m high / 55 m wide) Budget 18 million Euros (without shelves and computers)
- User facilities: 650 user seats
- all reader seats for laptops
- access to the University network (WWW), 50% LAN and Wireless LAN within the library
- 40 seats with computers (Thin Client terminals)
- 1 computer study room with 17 computers
- 1 study room with individual lockers for special readers
- 1 microfilm study room
- newspaper reading area (lobby)
- 2 reading desks with special facilities for visually handicapped users and special facilities for multimedia use copying facilities
Collections: 700,000 volumes (capacity: 800,000) on open shelves
- Classical studies 90,000
- Medieval Latin Literature 13,000
- Germanic Studies 185,000
- Dutch language and literature 30,000
- English language and literature 80,000
- French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese 150,000
- Slavic 70,000
- South American Studies 45,000 Comparative literature 35,000
Web Site: Foster and Partners
