The new Library of Birmingham, designed by Dutch practice Mecanno Architecten, is poised to raise the city's cultural and architectural cachet. Photography: Christian Richters

伯明翰的藏书爱好者很快就能在这个城市的新图书馆里浏览400，000多本图书，该图书馆将于下周向公众开放。伯明翰图书馆由荷兰Mecanoo Architecture ten设计，并于2008年赢得了该项目的冠军。随着该城市逐步推进其主要的重建计划，该图书馆将成为一个全国性的文化地标。

Mecanoo建筑师FrancineHouben解释说：“我们想要建造一座能给伯明翰的城市网络和建筑节奏带来一致性的建筑。”我们的梦想是创造一个“人民宫殿”：邀请、欢迎、激励所有年龄和背景的人。诱使过路人进入并踏上发现之旅的人。

从一开始，图书馆精致的丝状门面似乎与伯明翰的野蛮街区天际线相去甚远-但它的设计深深植根于伯明翰的工业和手工传统。大型圆圈象征着钢铁业的手艺，而较小的圆圈则回溯到这座城市历史悠久的珠宝区的黄金和银器。

在内部，这座建筑雄心勃勃的项目-占地2.9万平方米，使其成为欧洲最大的公共图书馆-是通过一系列重叠的圆形建筑连接起来的，它们是主要的垂直流通路线。

“每个人都想住在一楼，”侯本说，“所以我们介绍了几个半层楼，其形式是缓缓下降的梯田。”儿童图书馆位于宽敞的底层，还有音乐图书馆。毗邻的室外圆形剧场延伸到百周年广场，为音乐、戏剧和诗歌朗诵提供了表演空间。

图书馆的中心是罗通达书，四周是四层悬挑的圆形阳台，分布在三层楼上。自动扶梯在空间中蜿蜒而行，在视觉和物理上连接着不同的层次。内饰采用天然石材，白色陶瓷和橡木地板贯穿始终。

更上一层楼，专业档案馆占据了大楼里独特的金盒，在这里，图书馆比较脆弱的藏品在气候控制的环境中被安全保存。胡本解释道：“这一部分是关于展示通常隐藏的东西。”他故意决定把图书馆的庞大档案从地下室搬上来。

游客可以乘电梯通过罗通达书的上部到达天际线视图，这是一个惊人的全景俯瞰整个城市。建筑物屋顶上的金色圆形大厅也是莎士比亚纪念室的所在地。这间阅览室的木制镶板和玻璃橱柜是该市维多利亚时代图书馆的一个原始特色，它被精心拆除，然后在新家重新组装。

伯明翰，有一些可疑的区别，作为最初的意大利面联合，正在努力克服它的声誉，作为一个具体的大道，并成为自己的目的地。图书馆的建成标志着实现这一目标的道路上的另一个里程碑。

The library’s delicate filigree facade of interlocking metallic circles at first seems far removed from Birmingham’s skyline of brutalist blocks - but its design is strongly rooted in the city’s industrial and artisanal heritage. Photography: Christian Richters

A sketch by the architects of the proposed library design. Says Francine Houben of Mecanoo Architecten: 'We conducted several massing studies in order to discern the most appropriate relationship between the new building and its immediate surroundings. The result is a building form with three stacked volumes, each connected to the city at a different scale'

‘It’s the cross section that drives the building,’ says the architect, as she outlines the building’s ambitious programme, which includes an adult and children's library, study centre, music library, community health centre, multi-media centre, exhibition halls, roof terraces and the Shakespeare Memorial Room at the top

An outdoor amphitheatre on the lowest level extends into Centenary Square, providing a performance space for music, drama, and poetry readings. Photography: Christian Richters

Inside, the building’s programme is connected via a series of overlapping rotundas that serve as the main vertical circulation route. At the heart of the library lies the Book Rotunda, ringed by four levels of cantilevered circular balconies spread over three floors. Photography: Christian Richters

Over 400,000 books have been made accessible to visitors - double the amount previously on show at the Central Library. Photography: Christian Richters

Escalators zigzag across the space, connecting the different levels visually and physically. Photography: Christian Richters

Interiors feature natural stone, white ceramic and oak flooring throughout. Says Houben: 'We decided to create an interior that is both flexible and timeless, bold and refined, as well as easy to maintain.' Photography: Christian Richters

Daylight comes from the rooftop three floors above through a dramatic round skylight. 'With its rotundas and its facade, the building is an ode to the circle: an archetypical form that embodies universality, infinity, unity, and timelessness,' explains Houben

keywords:Centenary Square, Birmingham, Dutch practice, architecture, architect, library, design, educational design, Library of Birmingham, Mecanoo, Francine Houben

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