Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre - New Central Library of Humboldt University of Berlin

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre New Central Library of Humboldt University in Berlin Humboldt University has had a new central library erected right in the centre of Berlin, only a few minutes walk from the famous museum island and Friedrichstrasse station. It will bring together & for the first time in the university's 200year history & collections previously housed in separate libraries strewn throughout the city. The new Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre is the largest openshelving library in Germany and also contains the university computer centre, library administration as well as classrooms and meeting areas. The great reading room (the taller section of the building protects it from direct southern light) was arranged in receding levels. Through its size and its manytiered, almost scenic design, the space effects a sense of the outdoors, which is further emphasized by the large plates of glass used in the 'sky' glazing. An unobstructed view of the clouds nearly gives one the feeling of reading under the open sky. The façades subtly reveal the function of the building behind them through varying openings in the stone body of the structure. The distances between the pilasters in the façade, which are determined by the ground plan and vary by as much as 1.5 meters (and can also be understood as the spines of books), have an internal connection with the functions of the open stacks and reading areas. The façade was erected using yellowveined Treuchtlingen marble which makes a strong impression through its natural stone structure, emphasized by a highpressure water treatment. In the interior decor, calmness and clarity are achieved by reducing the colour palette to just a few tones: whitegray, blackgray, reddish wood (black cherry), dark red and dark green surfaces. The open stacks have been built using glossy black linoleum floors, matte blackgrey steel shelves and walls and ceilings painted white. Special areas such as the reading rooms, reading alcoves and the fixtures of the main entrance hall have been covered with wall and ceiling paneling in a veneer of American cherry wood. Areas of heavy foot traffic such as the main entrance hall and the reading room's open stairway have been outfitted with natural stone flooring made of the same Treuchtlingen marble used for the façade. Reading tables and table lamps are also part of the architectural design. The translucent quartzite glass used in the upper part of table lampshades makes reference to the table lamps in historical reading rooms. In the main entrance hall, a series of photographic panels depicting Humboldt University by New York artist Arun Kuplas were integrated into the wall covering. building utilization: Central Library of Humboldt University of Berlin, Computer and Media Services Central Unit construction dimensions: usable service area 21.850 m² total surface area 37.460 m² total room volume 138.570 m³