The Development of Public Library Design in the Netherlands; a Case Study on Forum Groningen
M.D. de Groot (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Hilde Sennema – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
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Abstract
It was thought that because of the rise of the digital age, public libraries would eventually go extinct. However, research shows that nothing could be further from the truth. Visitor numbers are rising each year and new libraries are opened. There has been a change in the typology of public libraries that ensures the important role the library has in society to this day. This paper will analyse this change, which is very important for the future of public libraries. The past developments in public library design and organisation are researched and the current value of the public library is analysed. This will lead to the case study conducted on the Forum Groningen. This is a multifunctional library building that was opened a little over three years ago and is an example of the “new” public library, and everything that comes with it. The paper will dive into the process behind the building, the typology and design, and the perception of the building by the public and by experts in the field. The combination of literature research and analysis will give an overview of developments in the realm of public libraries, connected to the Forum Groningen as an embodiment of this change.