The first thing you notice about the Hume Global Learning Centre – or Craigieburn Library as it is better known – is that it is quite unlike any library building you’ve ever seen before. The building is conceived as a series of interlocking pavilions of varying height and scale that step down from the entrance and a two-storey, central library reading space to the low scale of the children’s library.

Architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT) conceived the project to become a built focus of public life for the Hume community north of Melbourne, but also sought to connect the architecture with the natural landscape that is rapidly being transformed by residential expansion. FJMT utilised heavy rammed earth walls to form the enclosure and unite the building with the earth it sits upon. They also extended each pavilion into the landscape through louvered roofs that create a series of northern verandahs.

The cruciform circulation through the building ties these functions together in a highly legible, simple geometry. The primary reading room consists of double-height volume with excellent access to natural light, with reading areas positioned along the glazed northern façade, protected by high-level, directional roof louvers.

In addition to the core library services, the project includes an integrated local art gallery, café, childcare centre, computer training centre and meeting and function spaces. And the louvered verandahs have quickly become a focal point for community activities such as markets and musical performances.

The prestigious International Public library of the Year Award for 2014 was bestowed at the annual IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) in Lyon France. The judges justified their decision on the basis that Craigieburn “distinguishes itself as a significant modern construction with a strong, recognisable architectural concept and is a good example of how the City of Hume has used a library to create a sense of belonging for all demographic groups as a both a learning centre and a gathering place for the city.”

Photography by Trevor Mein

Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
fjmt.com.au