Rotterdam Central Library

We transform the façade’s glass layer into a seamless expanse, bringing more light into the library, while restoring the rhythm of the crisscrossing escalators and increasing connectivity by adding wooden amphitheater stairs between the floors. The exterior yellow tubes originally for air conditioning remain in use – taking in untreated air and expelling used air – but are now extended to the ground, where they enliven the streetscape. We also add light and transparency with a new glazed timber construction at the back of the library – in blue, like the former storage area it replaces. The new extension maintains the eccentric language of the original building with a sequence of quirkily angled floors and unexpected yet welcoming nooks and crannies.

The interiors unfold as a calm choreography of solitude and connection, creativity and concentration. Natural materials bring warmth and tactility, while color subtly orients visitors throughout the space. Each tone, texture, and light condition shapes a distinct yet harmonious atmosphere – from bright, open areas for collaboration to quiet corners for reflection and seclusion. Together, these spaces form an interior that feels coherent and alive, supporting every form of learning, meeting, and discovery.

We moved all the bookshelves and furniture away from the façade, opening up city panoramas. Around a series of new wooden cores, shelving and intimate study areas intertwine, shaping spaces where visitors can be ‘alone together’. We replace the conventional front-end back-end layout with open floorplans. Wherever you are in the library, there’s a view outside. We removed low-hanging lamps and concealed all the installations in a double floor in order to create similar wide-open vistas inside. Analogous to a village, the combination of sheltered spaces and open floors allow for diversity and versatility of the public space.

Our redesign strengthens the library’s relationship with its surroundings. The open and light new extension makes a visual connection with the cube houses – which share the color yellow with the library’s iconic tubes. We also added new, grand entrances on every side. These allow more direct access to the library’s heart and enhance the permeability of the ground floor space – open to the surrounding city fabric, including the lively market square, and as accessible and welcoming as ‘the city’s living room’. In addition to the public plaza on the ground floor, we added two more – the Culture Plaza on the fourth floor which showcases the important Erasmus collection.