LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.
LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects – All photos by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.

WAF 2019 – The LocHal Public Library by Civic architects in Tilburg, The Netherlands, “transformed a significant building which had been planned for demolition” and how “the result has created a physical facility in which a variety of users can meet for multiple purposes.” Explained the jury of the twelfth annual World Architecture Festival who named the project World Building of the Year 2019.

LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.

Civic Architects turned a former locomotive hangar dating from 1932 into a public meeting place and new library typology. Located in an area that is being transformed step by step into a new heart of the city, the building was designed in collaboration with Braaksma & Roos Architectenbureau and Inside Outside / Petra Blaisse.

LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.

“The LocHal building houses public libraries, co-working spaces, conference rooms, arts education spaces and a large city hall for international events, exhibitions and debates.” Explain at Civic Architects.

Large open spaces and floor fields match the heritage value of the monumental hall and the idea of an ‘open’ library. Six mobile and space-high canvases ensure that the staircases are transformed into theater or lecture space.

LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.

The welcoming open library area can be divided into different zones. Upon entering, visitors walk into a large central hall where a courtyard is served by a series of stairs and terraces where to read, work, discuss and act.

Via these terraces there is access to the co-working corridor that is surrounded by meeting rooms. On the last floor further wide corridors open to more intimate workplaces. “This hallway comes out at a shared winter garden with a view over the city”.

All photos by Stijn Bollaert – Courtesy of World Architecture Festival – WAF 2019.

LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.

LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival. LocHal Public Library by Civic Architects - Photo by Stijn Bollaert, courtesy of World Architecture Festival.