putting together by Pari Syal Ben Bisek is the photographer; Wilkinson Eyre Architects is the courtesy of them. a major architectural group is responsible for the refurbishment of the Weston Library at Oxford University. wilkinson eyre focuses on safeguarding its vast and unique collection of books and manuscripts… part of the university’s world famous bodleian library, the grade il listed building (formerly the new bodleian), which was originally designed by sir giles gilbert scott in the 1930s, stands anew finely equipped with a revised layout that has removed the upper floors and replaced them with a dedicated reading room and suite equipped with the latest research facilities. In a similar manner, the basement stacks that are three stories tall have been substantially reconstructed and improved to meet the requirements of current archive practices. Additionally, for the very first time, regulated shafts of daylight have been allowed to penetrate the core of the structure. The much-anticipated project has resulted in the creation of high-quality storage for the valuable special collections of the libraries, which have been preserved for the purpose of scholarship; the development of the libraries’ space for the support of advanced research; and the expansion of public access to the libraries’ great treasures through the establishment of new exhibition galleries and a lecture theater. Wilkinson Eyre has not only addressed the identity of the building but also tied it more closely to its local setting by enhancing its perception and approach. This was accomplished by opening up the building to the general public in order to showcase its distinctive collections. The architects have begun by establishing a connection between the library and the core bodleian buildings. The new blackwell hall is a space that is open to the public, is illuminated from above, and is 13.5 meters high. It serves as the center of the new library and includes a café, an information desk, a tapestry map from the 16th century (the sheldon tapestry), and a gateway from the 15th century that is on permanent loan from the V&A museum. The gateway was the sole building that survived a fire that occurred in 1662 and led to the garden of the ancient Dorner family’s estate at Ascott Park in Oxfordshire. Before the fire, the gateway was the only construction that had survived. The incorporation of this gateway, which was made possible with the assistance of the Oxfordshire Buildings Trust, brings this magnificent piece of architecture back to the county in which it was originally located. It does so in a setting that is both fresh and distinctive, highlighting the concept of old and new that is present throughout the entire structure. With the opening of two new exhibition rooms and a café, Blackwell Hall has created an alluring proposal and a warm and inviting experience for the general public. This is made possible by the newly constructed public entrance on Broad Street, which provides direct access to the building. In addition to the addition of exhibition galleries, the library has also received a number of other new facilities, such as a digital media center, a visiting scholars center, a lecture theater, and a suite of seminar rooms. These new facilities are designed to facilitate teaching and master-classes that pertain to the library’s special collections. In addition to facilitating current research methods and procedures, they also provide assistance for the academic users of the library and make it possible for the general public to engage with the library’s unique collections and treasures. Wilkinson Eyre has addressed fundamental difficulties with its infrastructure and enhanced its facilities while carrying out the renovation and upgrading of this landmark library building. This was accomplished without undermining the building’s lovely and historic character in any way. Scott’s first design was a replication of the typology of an Oxford University college; however, the typical quadrangle area in the center of the building was taken by an eleven-story book stack that was constructed upon a vast complex of exposed steel structure. Re-instated and restored are the uppermost levels of Scott’s original structure, which were concealed during the 1960s by an addition. These stories now contain a new reading area that has the greatest views of the city’s renowned spires. The slit windows that are placed in rows and through which the spires can be seen are a characteristic that is unique to the Scott building and are an important statement of the 1930s character of the structure. The glazing of the structure, particularly the slit windows, was the first large-scale application of anodized aluminum in the United Kingdom. Scott was well-known for his use of contemporary architectural technology. When it comes to restoring and matching Scott’s high-quality workmanship and original materials palette, special attention has been taken. Wilkinson Eyre’s attention to proportion, materiality, and light in the new rooms gives birth to a calm, academic seriousness radiating from this structure that was previously ignored. This gravitas emanates from stone, metal, plaster, joinery, and furniture, among other things. 140 tons of stone that had been salvaged was repurposed for use in the new facades, and the exterior stonework, which includes two angels holding the coat of arms of the University of Oxford and the bust of Sir Thomas Bodley, the founder of Bodleian Libraries, which is located above the King George VI door, has been meticulously cleaned and repaired. The main reading room is the “tour de force” of original joinery. It features a decorative, inlaid timber ceiling that imitates native American and African designs in a stylized art deco manner. The ceiling has been cleaned and restored to its original splendor while maintaining its original appearance. The design and specification of additional custom additions, such as shelves and tables, have been conducted using a sensitive approach. The renovation of the library is at the center of an ambitious period of renewal of the Bodleian’s facilities, with the goal of protecting the institution’s priceless literary heritage. The library is located directly across from the iconic Clarendon Building, which was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, and the exquisite Sheldon Theatre, which was designed by Christopher Wren. Images of the newly rebuilt library can be seen on indiaartndesign.com; click here to view them.
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