Amsterdam Central Public Library

Related person

Jo Coenen (was created by)

Date

2001-2007

Location

Europe->Netherlands->North Holland->Amsterdam

Description

"The Amsterdam Public Library is the central one of three large new buildings on the restructured Oosterdokseiland, near the Central Station. The programme consists of a library of almost 30,000 square meters (including theatre), a large café , and 9,000 square meters of office space. As in the Milan library design, a raised plinth offers a refined transitional area between the upper and lower floors, and here too the reading and study rooms are like terraces, though this time they are not arranged in a spiral but are placed around large and tall empty spaces. A terrace on the top floor accommodates the library theatre and conference rooms.
"The main shape of the building is attuned to the surroundings: both the apartments on the west side and the wide avenue on the east side leading to the conservatory must receive enough sunlight. At the same time, situated as it is beside the open waters of the Oosterdok, the library has to contribute to an attractive skyline." - http://www.jocoenen.com

Keywords: Openbare Bibiotheek Amsterdam, Centrale Bibliotheek, public library, Oosterdokseiland, OBA.

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