The Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects won the competition to design the New Central Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, which will replace the old building damaged by devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.
According to Inhabitat, the new library will be earthquake-resistant and energy efficient. The design covers an area of 129,166 sf, nearly double the original building.
In keeping with Christchurch’s Central Recovery Plan to create a “greener, more accessible city with a compact city centre and a strong identity,” Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects designed the library to also be a welcoming hub for social activity. Indoor and outdoor multipurpose rooms will accommodate uses such as exhibitions and performances.
Many design elements of the building reference cultural traditions of the Ngai Tahu, a Maori tribe in New Zealand, Inhabitat reports.
Construction started late last year. The library is scheduled to open in 2017.
Read more at Inhabitat.
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