Knowledge has become the cornerstone of success in today’s competitive environment. The interior design brief for the Singapore National Library was to advance the development and well-being of Singapore and its people in the knowledge economy through convenient access to information.
The design philosophy is centred on the idea of ‘connections’; the connection of the user to the library and knowledge, the connection of the library to the community as a whole, the connection of the various elements of the building to each other and ultimately, and the connection of the National Library and Singapore to the world.
Encompassing all these ideas is ‘nexus’, which describes the design philosophy for the project. The nexus is encapsulated in the seven-storey high book wall running through the core of the building. The book wall, constructed from aluminium and glass, acts as a division between front of house and back of house.
The interiors also feature multi-coloured LED lighting and a rare books library, designed to meet the requirements of keeping the books dark and cool with low humidity.
The library design delivers a place where Singaporeans from all generations and all walks of life find support in the pursuit of their personal and professional aspirations.
