Piers Gough’s £14 million 'super-library' opens in Southwark
Canada Water library by CZWG
Source: Tim CrockerCanada Water library contained in bronze inverted pyramid
A £14 million library designed by Piers Gough at CZWG has opened in the London Borough of Southwark.
Canada Water library is contained within an inverted pyramid shape, clad in light bronze aluminium with sequined perforations.
The building, dubbed a “super-library” by the council, includes a 150-seat theatre, a café, three rooms for evening classes and 79 internet terminals, as well as space for around 40,000 books.
Gough said: “The idea of a free-standing object in space is quite appropriate for a library, since it is a portal to the discovery of other worlds.
“The building celebrates its brilliant location on a new public square, next to a bus and tube station and overlooking Canada Water basin.
“The library is an indoor public space open to everyone, where you find wonderful things you weren’t necessarily looking for. It is a futuristic Pandora’s box of possibilities.”
The library has been under construction for more than two years. Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture at Southwark Council, said: “It’s an incredible, breath-taking use of space, both inside and out, and has all that you could need under one roof.”
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Readers' comments (9)
The Jawas called. They want their Sandcrawler back.
I'll take the R5-D4 please...
Southwark Library should get a free subscription to Private Eye, as their architect has generously written this month's Pseuds Corner all by himself. "The idea of a free-standing object in space" does sound much more intellectual than "a building", which is presumably what it means.
I can't guess what "a futuristic Pandora’s box of possibilities" refers to, but I'm certain it doesn't mean what Mr Gough wants it to.
I regret, Graham, that Mr Gough should be taken at his word. Judging by the work CZWG have foisted upon an unsuspecting world of late, they have indeed unleased their own vision of evil.
The only question remaining is whether any of the good residents of Canada Water will succeed in finding the hope that so eluded Pandora herself...
I quite like it.
I put CZWG in the same bracket as Will Alsop; both have reputations for being a little wacky and crazy, yet their buildings are often quite rational and considered when you actually visit them.
I do agree about his dubious explanations though.
Piers spoke about this building (and related masterplan) in a talk I attended at the building store about 4 years ago. I'm glad it actually happened in the end - there was a compelling story behind it. I like this building as a free-standing object in space, but can we have some photos of the actual library bit, please? At the moment the "pandora's box" of possibilities is very successful at being just that.
Well the look of neighbouring towers and and other surrounds too I suspect are certainly improved. Plan to check it out on the morrow.
Errr, Piers... I thought "Pandora's Box" contained all the ills of the world?
the shard in the background in immense.