£193 million Birmingham library images released

Dutch practice Mecanoo has released the first images of its proposed £193 million Library of Birmingham.The 31,000m² building due to open in 2013, and Construction work on the site,which is located on Centenary Square between theBirmingham Repertory Theatre and the 1930s Baskerville House, is expected to start in 2010.

Francine Houben, Founding Partner of Mecanoo Architecten, said: ‘I am inspired by the energy of this great city. I hope that the adventure of going through the building will draw many more people towards the joy of learning and reading, and even just to simply experience the pleasure of social interaction that a great public space can provide.’

Mecanoo has designed many highly original library, learning and arts centre buildings including National Kaohsiung Performing Arts Center, in Taiwan, and the Library for the Technical University, in Delft. One design, the Learning Center for the École Polytechnique, in Lausanne, revolves at 15 degrees per hour – the same speed as the Earth.