Materiality and co-design creates visual cohesion and spatial organisation at Kentish Town Library.
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We worked with the London Borough of Camden at Kentish Town Library to lead a co-designed furnishing scheme to revitalise, organise and integrate new technology into this well used and well loved high-street public space.
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The design phase of the project was conducted over a series of weeks and included surface pattern making workshops with local families design fabric prints to use throughout the space, as well as a number of design meetings with the library staff, held in the library, walking around as we (quietly!) talked and drew.
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The scheme replaces a mismatched mix of low quality furniture with a simple, high quality material pallet including natural timers and cork and splashes of bold colour. The bespoke furniture is used to activate and identify various spaces throughout the main and children’s libraries, helping to set the tone and support specific types of use is each area. In its simple use of material, bespoke designs, and carful placement the furniture the scheme was inspired by the original 1960s fit out and the elegance of the original 1960s building.
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Throughout each zone of the library the new fitted, freestanding and mobile furniture highlights the role of books and reading whilst maintaining flexibility and supporting the whole range of library uses. Book displays and browsing shelves are cleverly integrated within each area of the library, with quieter browsing sections now used for peaceful study amongst the main shelving.
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Fit-out work was delivered in a series of stages allowing the library to stay open as much as possible during the initial delivery of new furniture. All remaining work was then carried during a to a tight closure window, during which we worked alongside the local authority’s Properties team, co-ordinating works and providing design advice for services and surface finishes.
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Drawings
