The Year in Architecture 2022

 

Overview: Flexible Flow

Architects

Furniture echoes architectural elements, places of refuge get playful, and more of the year’s top library design trends

The architects included here are those attributed to the featured projects

 

Photos (l.-r.): Hyattsville Branch, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, MD. Grimm + Parker, architect; ©Sam Kittner, photo.
Atlanta Central Library, GA; Cooper Carry; Moody Nolan, architects; photo ©2021 Jonathan Hillyer.
Hayden Library, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA; Kennedy and Violich Architecture, architect; John Horner, photo.

 

The Data

Design Trends

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Across many library spaces and settings, furnishings, finishes, and fixtures are tightly coordinated, both in shape and in style, to create a cohesive, seamless experience between more public and more private areas in the library.

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Shelving design continues to evolve to support the visual narrative and personality of library spaces, from whimsical interactive shelves with cubby holes and twists and turns to shelves that offer integrated seating, display, and collections.

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While peaceful nooks for concentrating, enjoying the scenery, or getting work done are now standards for library design, these libraries feature unique and inspiring spaces within spaces that create a whole new experience within the library for their communities.

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You have arrived. This year’s libraries emphasize entrances by visually drawing community members into and through their doors with light, color, height, and plenty of glass or openings throughout their buildings so people can find where they want to go.

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