ADAMA SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY
DEPARTEMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

CASE STUDY OF PECKHAM LIBRARY

Name: Belachew Dosegnaw

ID: R/00170/07
 Introduction
Peckham Library
Peckham Library is a library and community building situated in Peckham,
southeast London. The library was designed by Mr. Will Alsop from Alsop &
Stormer Company and it received Award for architectural innovation.
The building looks like an inverted capital letter L, with the upper part supported
by thin steel pillars set at random angles. The building includes meeting rooms,
childrens areas and the library.
 Building profile

location. london united kingdom

Architect Also and stormer
Built year. between 1998 & 2000
Area . 24,750 ft2

District, southwark
Road network
Legend
Cycles
Pedestrian
Vehicles

Vegetation

Legend
Trees
Ground cover

Land use

Legend
Bus stop
Peckham fitness
center
Market
Peckham space
 Building typology
Legend
G+1
G+2
G+3
G+4

Building Form

The architect wanted to create a building big

enough to welcome a library and few offices,
without looking too massive and heavy. The
solution he found was to raise up a part of
the structure, so as to keep less contact with
the ground as possible.
This modification gives us a feeling lightness,
and in spite of this modification, there is no
loose of space , it is transformed in a
covered external space, keeping the aim of
the building.
Outside of the building facade

When exposed to the

atmosphere, copper oxide
film forms, changing the
surface colour of copper
from salmon pink to light
green colour.
aesthetically, it clearly
makes the building stand
out.
The cooper facade used as
a protection against the
violence of Peckham

PRE-PATINATED COPPER (EAST, SOUTH, WEST FAADE AND ROOF)

THE NORTH FAADE (colored glass)

The north face of the building is completely
glazed with a grid of clear and vividly
colored glass, This provides an excellent
combination of natural light and colored
tinted light within the library spaces making it
lively.
The glass used is in contrast with the
opaque metal used at the other side.
It offers a unique and colorful view of
London
 Contrast between exterior and interior

The exterior is more

rough and bold with
materials like
copper, Stone,
steel, concrete,
glass, iron while the
interior is more
warm, smooth and
welcoming.

There is an element
of surprise interior
exterior

Columns (structure)
The most obvious structural feature of the
building is the large overhang which is
supported by 7 thin, slanted metal
concreate filled columns giving it a dynamic
and destructed aspect.

Viewers are perturbed by the shape as the

notion of such a large load being supported
on such small beams makes the structure
visually unstable and therefore makes the
viewer uneasy but nevertheless intrigued.
 Legend
Wire netting
Columns

Wire netting (structure)

Under the big over hang created
by the l shape of the building, there is a
metal structure, made of wire netting.

It gives the area a dynamic aspect

caused by the blended shape Columns
(structure) Wire netting (structure).

Interior- pods
comfortable chairs
placed in clusters
throughout the
space, inviting you to
sit down and
become invested in
a book.
So within the public
space, there are
small pockets of very
personal space,
changing as one
person stops reading
and another one
begins.
These pockets are
mostly under the
pods and around the
columns
 light
The central pod has a skylight, you ascend into it through a spiral staircase
light becomes another material separating the area from the rest of the library.
The ceiling contains cut-outs and niches to make the space airy and light
From the exterior, the windows and skylights appear randomly placed. But once inside the reading
space, you can see the natural lighting was really calculated
Light falls into the space from around the pods and around the perimeter of the dropped ceiling. What
a novelty to read and work by natural light!
The walls are painted a creamy white, with light seeping in around the edges of the ceiling through a
gap between the ceiling and the wall.
Sustainability
The glass facade allows in natural
sunlight, reducing the need for
artificial light.
The structure is designed to allow
for maximum air circulation to
reduce heating and cooling costs.
The cheeky beret cap on the roof
cools and shades the ventilation
shaft. The ceiling contains cut-outs
and niches to make the space airy
and light.
There is a lot of green spaces
around Peckham library, contrasting
with the urban mood.
The oxided copper does not need
any chemical products to maintain
the surface.
The glass faade has multiple
layers keeping the heat inside the
building Sustainability.
 Red carpet and white walls, makes it warm and welcoming The library certainly did
contribute to the regeneration of the area.
The pre-patinated copper, steel mesh and coloured glass, chosen for their vandal-
deterring properties, give the building its sweetie-like appearance.
Giant letters on the roof clearly announce its function as a library.
The library was designed to be an integral part of Peckham.
The bright colours of the glass panels challenge the viewer to see the neighborhood in a
new way. It doesnt hide Peckham, it exposes it.