Originally designed in the 1980s as an archive in a non-public context, the Netherlands’ National Library (KB) has become increasingly disconnected from its surroundings as the city around it transformed. With the future introduction of “the Haagse Loper”, a vibrant public route from the center of The Hague to the fringe of the city, and the relocation of the archive to an off-site repository, the library faces an interesting challenge.
This design in response is based on three different strategies to guide the redesign of the National Library. The first strategy focuses on optimizing the existing. By adjusting the building volume and reorganizing the internal distribution of functions, optimizing the use of the library.
The second strategy introduces a program that actively reconnects the KB’s collection with its users. By implementing makerspaces, such as an expansion of the KBAtelier, a lab for translating the collection’s heritage into tangible projects, the program shifts from passive knowledge consumption to active knowledge creation.
The third strategy relies on the introduction of a flexible system that ensures long-term adaptability. Designed as an open framework rather than a fixed program, this layer allows functions, users, and technologies to change over time while the existing structure remains intact.
Together, these three strategies revitalize the National Library of the Netherlands from an introverted archive to an open public institution. By optimizing the existing structure, reactivating the relationship between the collection and its users, and adapting long-term flexibility, the redesign reconnects the National Library to the urban context and enlarges its public role.