The rise of the library.
In Sydney, any regeneration of public realm usually delivers the likely suspects: retail spaces, cafés and restaurants, a children’s playground, and a healthy dose of urban greening.
They also often include a less common addition: a public library.
Any conceptions of dilapidated institutions made redundant by the .com era have no place in the libraries of Sydney. These are architectural showpieces, proudly serving new communities with beautiful workspaces, quality caffeine hits, and the democratic access to information and learning.
Even if the demand for loaned and printed books is diminished these days, Sydney proves that there is still a role for the public library in the modern era. Perhaps now even more than ever, they provide important spaces for quiet contemplation, industry, and togetherness.
