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and walled off from the surrounding suburban environment. The Green Squaré Library arguably lacks that quality; or provides it in very small doses.

Figure 3 and walled off from the surrounding suburban environment. The Green Squaré Library arguably lacks that quality; or provides it in very small doses.

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But the new Sydney library that has arguably attracted the widest attention and most acclaim in recent years is Green Square Library and Plaza (Stewart Hollenstein, 2018). The result of a 2012 international design competition, the ibrary and plaza are the civic centrepiece of the massive Green Square urban renewal project on former industrial land in Sydney’s inner south. The new mixed-use neighbourhood involves $AU 13 billion worth of planned construc- tion and over 30,000 new residential units. The library and plaza precinct, which will ultimately also include the Gunyama Park and Aquatic Centre, is connected directly to the Green Square train station and adjacent to the most easily recog- nisable tower in the urban renewal project, the Infinity commercial development. As such the library occupies a strategically significant position and carries a lot of responsibility for the success of the area as something more than a densely packed dormitory. Fig. 1 Julien Lanoo. Looking east over Green Square Library and Plaza [Photograph] As with the international scene, the past couple of years in Sydney have also seen continuing and architecturally stimulating activity connected with library pro- jects. The City of Sydney opened its Darling Square Library, designed by BVN in October 2019, just a few months after another BVN-designed facility, Marrickville Library and Pavilion (for the neighbouring Inner West Council) opened to wide acclaim from locals and the profession.
But the new Sydney library that has arguably attracted the widest attention and most acclaim in recent years is Green Square Library and Plaza (Stewart Hollenstein, 2018). The result of a 2012 international design competition, the ibrary and plaza are the civic centrepiece of the massive Green Square urban renewal project on former industrial land in Sydney’s inner south. The new mixed-use neighbourhood involves $AU 13 billion worth of planned construc- tion and over 30,000 new residential units. The library and plaza precinct, which will ultimately also include the Gunyama Park and Aquatic Centre, is connected directly to the Green Square train station and adjacent to the most easily recog- nisable tower in the urban renewal project, the Infinity commercial development. As such the library occupies a strategically significant position and carries a lot of responsibility for the success of the area as something more than a densely packed dormitory. Fig. 1 Julien Lanoo. Looking east over Green Square Library and Plaza [Photograph] As with the international scene, the past couple of years in Sydney have also seen continuing and architecturally stimulating activity connected with library pro- jects. The City of Sydney opened its Darling Square Library, designed by BVN in October 2019, just a few months after another BVN-designed facility, Marrickville Library and Pavilion (for the neighbouring Inner West Council) opened to wide acclaim from locals and the profession.
rely on a single entrance/exit to maintain easy active surveillance from a fixed point. Frequently, architectural intentions to use a new building to orchestrate a series of intersections and connections to surrounding urban space are actual- ly undermined by client preferences for such single-point access control. Here, in contrast, the architects have been able to persuade the librarians to work with multiple access points and so enable the set of surrounding connections on which the basic design concept depends. Fig. 2 Hollenstein Stewart in association with Steward Architects. Green Square Library and Plaza proposal [Volumetric diagram] The pair of crisp geometric objects carefully counterposed against the circu- lar lightwell cut into the plaza is the most photogenic aspect of the project. But the real significance of this library-plaza is in the work it does as a piece of ur- ban design. The building has several access points, all of them leading into the library proper. This is unusual as most libraries, in fact most public facilities,
rely on a single entrance/exit to maintain easy active surveillance from a fixed point. Frequently, architectural intentions to use a new building to orchestrate a series of intersections and connections to surrounding urban space are actual- ly undermined by client preferences for such single-point access control. Here, in contrast, the architects have been able to persuade the librarians to work with multiple access points and so enable the set of surrounding connections on which the basic design concept depends. Fig. 2 Hollenstein Stewart in association with Steward Architects. Green Square Library and Plaza proposal [Volumetric diagram] The pair of crisp geometric objects carefully counterposed against the circu- lar lightwell cut into the plaza is the most photogenic aspect of the project. But the real significance of this library-plaza is in the work it does as a piece of ur- ban design. The building has several access points, all of them leading into the library proper. This is unusual as most libraries, in fact most public facilities,
Libraries today are expected to do more and more different things while main- taining their traditional functions. They lend DVDs, tools, and video game consoles in addition to books; they are used as cafés and host community groups and small musical events as well as children’s story time. Obviously, they cannot be all things to all people. Green Square Library and Plaza does many of these very well. It is a highly successful public meeting place and children’s play space, and contains an important set of resources for local residents. If it also proves to be a sustaining refuge for readers and students, then the architects will have achieved something quite extraordinary.
Libraries today are expected to do more and more different things while main- taining their traditional functions. They lend DVDs, tools, and video game consoles in addition to books; they are used as cafés and host community groups and small musical events as well as children’s story time. Obviously, they cannot be all things to all people. Green Square Library and Plaza does many of these very well. It is a highly successful public meeting place and children’s play space, and contains an important set of resources for local residents. If it also proves to be a sustaining refuge for readers and students, then the architects will have achieved something quite extraordinary.
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