Library of the Future: Redefining Learning Spaces

Introducing Bangkok’s library that speaks much louder than a silent book sanctuary – Architecture Library, Chulalongkorn University, designed by Department of ARCHITECTURE Co.

As digitalisation has changed how people access knowledge, we have witnessed the transformation of library functions from single-purpose academic realms to versatile community gathering venues.

Gone are the days of old-school study collections with conventional layouts. A lot of university libraries out there have reinvented themselves in ways unimaginable a decade ago.

Situated within the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, the department’s futuristic education hub bears no resemblance to yesteryear’s libraries.

Photo courtesy of Department of Architecture

This reconfiguration project was prompted by the urge to rethink an architecture school facility. In 2019, the former library setting was refashioned into a creative incubator where students can utilise multiple learning platforms, singularly or in groups.

The remarkable interior is a testament to the vital role of human-centred design. Spanning 1,260 square metres, the building’s modern aesthetic includes a coworking zone, a reading area, a meeting room, an exhibition space, a lecture hall, and an auditorium.

Photo courtesy of Department of Architecture

Different atmospheres and seating types allow students to act upon preferences, and acquire new ideas through books and many other information sources that foster their creativity.

The CU Architecture Library has transcended its traditional boundaries and students are sure to feel the thirst for knowledge here.

What makes this library work is the same thing that makes any shared space work: it was designed around how people actually want to use it, not around a fixed idea of what a library should be.