The design of the School of Pharmacy’s new library on the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus in Brisbane evolved from observing the study habits of their students.

Design Nest, the two-person team consisting of architect Paul Jones and interior designer Sonda Banney, focussed on facilitating an engaging and interactive learning environment.

From a quick glance over their portfolio, their extensive work for both the University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology indicates this challenge was in competent hands.

“Effectively we wanted to create a diverse range of group interaction spaces,” says Paul Jones, executive architect at Design Nest. “From observations at other libraries, students tend to go straight to booth-like pockets”.

The result of this observation is five futuristic-looking study capsules placed along the central corridor spine. Each circular banquette is enclosed with timber batten screens, the light radiating from within, leaving a halo pattern on the floor outside.

As well as these study pods, Vitra Highback Lounges line the corridor creating more private alcoves suited to both individual or group work.

In an effort to provide energy efficiency, conscious decisions were made by the engineers from Medland Metropolis with regard to lighting.

With an abundance of natural light during the day, most of the lights remain switched off during the day, and are otherwise controlled by motion sensor technology to minimise energy consumption.