FJMT surrounds craigieburn library with shading louvers in australia

FJMT surrounds craigieburn library with shading louvers in australia
photo by trevor mein
all images courtesy of francis-jones morehen thorp

located in the melbourne suburb of hume city, australia, the craigieburn library serves as learning center and gathering space to a fast growing community. designed by architecture office FJMT, the building has been granted the ‘international public library of the year award 2014’, presented at the annual meeting of the IFLA (international federation of library associations and institutions) in lyon, france. the project earns the prize through its openness to the public, as well as its environmentally conscious strategies. the structure utilizes locally sourced earth as its primary material, while being distinguished by deep horizontal louvers to shade the tall glazed walls.

louvered roofs extend outward from the building
photo by trevor mein

the building is conceived as a composition of interlocking rectangular pavilions of varying heights and sizes. from the high entrance area and a two-story reading space, these volumes step downward toward the smaller-scaled children’s library. the layout is highly legible, with various functions connected by a cruciform-plan circulation scheme.

the enclosed structure is surrounded by verandahs, which function to mediate the relationship between interiors and landscape. shaded by horizontal fins, these spaces serve for community activities such as markets and music performances.

the building’s separate rectangular volumes step downward from the center
photo by trevor mein

beyond traditional library functions, the craigieburn facility also includes a gallery space for local art work, a childcare center, a computer training room, and various meeting areas.

the structure places a lightweight steel frame atop rammed earth walls
photo by trevor mein

photos by trevor mein

the various reading areas offer balanced daylight through large and shaded glass curtain walls
photo by trevor mein

photo by trevor mein

the surrounding verandahs offer spaces for community markets and events
photo by trevor mein

photo by trevor mein

photo by trevor mein

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project info:

location: craigieburn, victoria, australia
year: 2012
building size: 4640 sqm
client: hume city council
architecture: francis-jones morehen thorp
photography: trevor mein