Royal Blind Society Library Services Building ::

Project Description::

This programmatically complex building was constructed under the constraints of a very limited budget for a specialised client. It is a major insertion into the existing facilities of the Blind Society and was designed to link and compliment its original buildings. The new building includes broadcast-quality sound studios, an audiotape production unit, a reference library, and lending and production facilities for both talking and Braille books.

The Library required detailed briefing and specialised design to take account of the needs of sight-impaired and blind workers and visitors. Signage, colours, textured finishes and natural and artificial lighting, as well as more conventional accessibility considerations, were developed to orientate users and distinguish the various spaces.

The sound studios are lined in a mix of timber and hard and soft surfaces to enable the reverberation to be tuned for specific needs, and to create a high-quality environment for the performers. A central day-lit double storey spine provides orientation and address for all the major facilities, and links the existing buildings on each side of the new library.