Design Trend: Welcome One and All

A palpable sense of celebration and cultural sensitivity is evident through color, choice of fabric, and the architectural program. These renovations and builds are anything but utilitarian, incorporating thoughtful details like imagery, materiality, and type into their spaces.

The Montgomery Branch, Somerset County Library System, Skillman, NJ, uses large windows to fill its space with natural light and a fireplace to encourage visitors to sit and gather. CREDITS: DMR Architects, architect; Jeffery Totaro, photo. 

Relocated to an old market building, the Downtown Branch of the Omaha Public Library, NE, brings discovery and connection to the heart of the city. The design honors the site’s historical charm, integrating wood and steel. CREDITS: HDR Architects, architect; Dan Schwalm ©2023 HDR, photo.

Community comes together in the neighborhood living room at the Lamond Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, DC Public Library, a light-filtered space offering comfortable spots to connect. CREDITS: HGA, architect; Kate Wichlinski, photo.

The layout of the Gahanna Branch, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH, celebrates its name—the Algonquian word meaning “three into one,” representing the three nearby creeks that converge. CREDITS: NBBJ, warchitect; ©2023 Feinknopf Photography/Brad Feinknopf, photo.