The role of libraries has undergone significant changes in recent years. They evolved from a static repository into a multifunctional ‘third space’ that fulfils a diverse range of social needs. For a national library such as the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) in The Hague, this poses a clear challenge: how can the building accommodate more public functions without losing the quiet and research-oriented character that is essential to many users? Therefore, this research focuses on the question: How can spatial strategies within the existing Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) contribute to an effective balance between research and public needs?
The research combines literature study, case studies, and user data from surveys and interviews. The results show that clear zoning, acoustic separation, variation in workspaces, and better orientation are essential strategies for ensuring that the various functions can coexist effectively. At the same time, it should be noted that the case studies mainly concern public, newly built libraries and therefore do not fully correspond to the situation at the KB. In addition, the user survey only provides insight into the experiences of current visitors, leaving non-users out of the picture. The results of this research form guidelines for the redesign of the KB. They are not fixed solutions, but a basis that needs to be further developed and tested within the context of the existing building and the specific function of the KB.
These guidelines are translated into a design proposal for the transformation of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, in which the building is reimagined as a House of Culture where knowledge, culture and community coexist alongside the KB’s research and heritage functions. Through the application of spatial strategies such as zoning, gradations of public and quiet spaces, and differentiated circulation, the design explores how public programmes can be integrated without compromising the requirements of research and collection use. The proposal is developed within the constraints of the existing building and focuses on reuse and transformation rather than replacement.