The London Library
The London Library is the world’s largest private subscription library, holding approximately 1.5 million books. The historic library spreads across five different Grade II listed buildings and a 1970s office block.
Building fabric changes and air movement improvements achieved the fundamental objective of improving environmental conditions for the books, while maximising storage space.
While full temperature and humidity control and carbon filtration was provided for the rare book collection, the remaining stacks used a more passive solution. Environmental conditions were controlled by correcting seals, improving insulation and avoiding light penetration with assistance from mechanical ventilation.
The many thousands of books and manuscripts exchange heat and moisture with their environment, acting as passive climate regulators.
Exposed thermal mass installed on the ceiling and solar controlled blinds regulate the environment in the Art Room.
A unique understanding of the material interactions between books and the environment allowed us to minimise the energy consumption and physical intrusiveness of our mechanical services design.
The new plant room will eventually serve the entire library, through thorough planning and installation of a central services corridor.
A pleasant reading atmosphere exists in the Lightwell Reading Room due to natural ventilation and daylight through the high level roof lights.
The London Library is one project in our continuing story of nearly 50 years of delivering education buildings.
For more images of The London Library visit Max Fordham on Flickr.