Archoffice
Project Location:
Birkenhead, Northshore, Auckland
Categories:
Commercial Architectural Excellence, Cladding Building Envelope
Project Description:
The Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre is a purpose-built new generation 2,600m2 building housing the Library, Council Cashiers, Information Services, Plunket and CAB.
The architectural concept is based around a simple narrative of looking through ancient trees that existed on the site to the view – thus notions of solid and void, transparency, light quality, pattern, materiality and form were considered and modeled to inform various design demands.
The intention was to have a pleasant and verdant quality of light available within the building that subtly changes during the day, leading to the building becoming transparent at night. The building enjoys a unique setting in the existing elevated Neil Fisher War Memorial Reserve.
Laminated Purple Heart and Alaskan Yellow Cedar timber fins undulate and screen the North West facade. These are aesthetically sculptural, providing a strong visual connection with the surrounding reserve while also practically acting as sun control.