Architectus

State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein

STATE LIBRARY VICTORIAB

SHL

MANUFACTURERS
Twentinox

CONSULTANTS
Andronas Conservation Architects, Irwinconsult, Steensen Varming, Arup, Mckenzie Group, Salus, Id Lab

CLIENT
State Library Victoria

PHOTOGRAPHS
Trevor Mein

AREA
13532 M² 

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Australia 

CATEGORY
Library, Adaptive Reuse 

State Library Victoria, a historic Australian landmark, has officially reopened its doors to the public, revealing extensively transformed library spaces designed by Danish architectural firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Australian architecture and design studio Architectus.

State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein
State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein

The library comprises 23 individual buildings and occupies an entire city block in Melbourne’s city centre.

The newly designed spaces are part of a five-year redevelopment plan aimed at expanding the library’s community outreach and enhancing the visitor experience.

State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein
State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein

Working in partnership, Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Architectus were tasked with rethinking and revitalising the existing spaces of the library in order to unlock possibilities, create connections, and provide a framework for the library’s ongoing and future evolution.

Elif Tinaztepe, Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen, said that working on a project of such historical and cultural significance was an exercise in contrasts.

State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein
State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein

“Our work is deeply contextual, so we dedicated ourselves to studying this historical institution and understanding its important place in the cultural landscape of Melbourne.

Our aim with the transformation of State Library Victoria was to allow the heritage spaces to stand out in their raw beauty while complementing them with a strong contemporary design line to help carry this beloved institution into the future. Respecting the authenticity of the spaces and existing design elements was our guiding principle.”

Ruth Wilson, Principal and Melbourne Studio Leader at Architectus, said the design concept for the completed transformation puts library users at the centre, providing an open, accessible, and welcoming experience for all ages and cultural backgrounds.

State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein
State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein

“The library has been evolving for more than 160 years and with this restoration now complete, we have prepared the library for its future uses, cementing its position in Melbourne’s history as the centre of inspiration and education.”


State Library Victoria
© Trevor Mein


State Library Victoria
Diagram

Architectus
T +61 3 94295733
Architectus
level 25/385 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
SHL Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
T +45 70 201900
SHL Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Njalsgade 17B, Pakhus 2, 3.sal, København S, Denmark