An introductory overview presents seven critical themes that characterise past and present public library designs, highlighting the expressive architectural potential of this unique and important building type.
A survey of over 40 historically-significant libraries traces the development of the building type over time, with a primary focus on precedents from the US and northern Europe, where the modern public library originated, and where its design has been most comprehensively developed.
A selection of nearly 50 contemporary projects from the past 30 years focusses on the most current developments in public library design, with a diverse and varied collection of work by over 35 regional, national and international design firms.
About the Author
R. Thomas Hille is an architect, educator and researcher based in Seattle, Washington, USA.
About the Publisher
Founded in 1836, Routledge has published many of the greatest thinkers and scholars of the last 100 years, including Adorno, Einstein, Russell, Popper, Wittgenstein, Jung, Bohm, Hayek, McLuhan, Marcuse and Sartre. Today, Routledge is the world’s leading academic publisher in the humanities and social sciences, publishing thousands of books and journals each year and serving scholars, instructors and professional communities worldwide.
