Hackney Central Library

Embracing Heritage, Nature, and Neighbourhood

Found within one of London’s most diverse and trendy neighbourhoods, Hackney Central Library has been transformed.  Alongside the beautiful books, the new library also features plants, murals, exhibitions, artworks, and even a mini grand piano! 

Thedesignconcept secured the project by winning an Open Design Competition, where they displayed BCI's interior design expertise. With collaborative design throughout, Hackney has been welcomed as a breath of fresh air and we are delighted with the results. 

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New purpose for the library

Libraries must change, grow, and rethink their purpose, and we applaud the forward-thinking approach of the library leadership and teams, who we believe have struck the perfect balance with this library.

Working with artists and designers Sion Ap Tomos, Skye Baker and Emily Jost, who created the artwork and patterns with the help of over 100 children, we integrated the artwork seamlessly into the overall design.

The artwork in the library is nothing short of spectacular. Key furniture pieces and bespoke elements used throughout pair well with all this creativity.

The library's development team worked closely with artists and children from the local schools (Gayhurst Primary and Stormont House), who helped create the inspiring mural in the children’s area. 

Focus on history and heritage

Next to where the library stands was once the home of the Loddiges’ Nursery’s palm house - the largest hot house in Europe at the time, renowned for its biophilic wonders. The refurbished library embraces that rich heritage.

Hackney as a borough is a historically diverse and culturally rich area, founding grassroots art movements and upholding strong traditions that bleed into the ‘Hackneyness’ spirit.

To honor this, our designers researched the global trade in plants and trees, as the famous glass house was built in 1825 to showcase trees and plants from across the globe.

The specific greenery details of the resulting artwork were paired with natural lighting hues to embrace biophilic design which have proven benefits for mental wellbeing.

This clear use of flora helped us reimagine the background of the space within modern design in a positive and uplifting way.

Solo haven or social studying

Placing social gathering and collective study areas throughout the library, allow users to intermix with those around them or find their own solo haven in some of the lounge areas or even in the shelves - we call this room-within-room. Informational staff points and clear wayfinding was introduced throughout the design and adaptable seating /desking solutions was provided for heightened accessibility.

Gone is the old colour scheme of the library, replaced with much more vibrant and inviting finishes that makes the mind more open to creativity, focused study and reading time.

Zones were coordinated to shape multi-generationalism, shown with the curved open-exposure of the children’s section leading through to the rest of the library. Perfect for parents and their little ones to simultaneously enjoy their community hub of literature and learning together. The biophilic features in the children’s library further highlights the overall theme with sensory exposure, such as our acoustic soft seating and interactive light/sound elements in the sensory huts.

As a team, we always make sure to work closely with our community pillars, whether it be council representatives, library users or the amazing librarians and development teams who support them. We’re grateful to have had such a forward-thinking experience with the Hackney Central Library team throughout the entire process. This project is an example of how a client and a design team can collaborate and share ideas, resulting in a very special outcome that we know will be admired far and wide.

Sustainable design for a responsible future 

FSC certified wood and other natural materials were foundational to the key pieces we selected to go hand-in-hand with this theme.

Local artist contribution

Residents from the local community also contributed to the very special artwork that has been used in bold wallpaper as well as bespoke fabric on key furniture throughout the library.

Artist Jazz Grant created the mural ‘To Travel this Ship’ in celebration of the Windrush generation, of which she is a descendent.

A comfortable place to stay

A key design direction was to make the best use of the 3 light-wells in the space to incentivise natural productivity, with study stations being strategically placed beneath them to add to the user experience.

Students use Hackney Central Library actively and we wanted to ensure that the interior design could  accommodate many different user groups across generations. That way, everyone can find their "own space" in the library - regardless of the goal is to relax, study or socialise.

Don't Just Take It From Us

“The Design Concept were excellent partners for the Hackney Central Library refurbishment.

They really tuned into the distinctive, creative spirit and energy of Hackney, and have successfully transformed the space into a vibrant hub for the whole community.

We love how they integrated nature into the design and we are grateful for their willingness to collaborate with our creative staff, library users and local artists on the murals, wallpapers and design features.

This inclusive approach was brilliant because it ensured the library was genuinely designed with the people who use it, and their influence is evident throughout.

This project is a perfect example of how well a client and design team can work together. We are delighted with the outcome and the overwhelmingly positive feedback we've received from the community”.

- Emma Winch, Head of Cultural Transformation, Hackney Council

Take a tour inside Hackney Central Library

Products used for Hackney Central Library

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