Danish schmidt hammer lassen architects has been selected with New Zealand-based Architectus to design the New Central Library in Christchurch. An “anchor project” for the city’s post-disaster Recovery Plan, which aims to resurrect Christchurch as a more “greener, accessible” city following the devastation of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the new library will serve as a catalyst to attract dwellers back into the city center.
“The New Central Library will be a social gathering point in the rebuilt city. It will provide easy access to digital technologies and local heritage collections. There will be exhibition and performance spaces, a learning centre, spaces to relax – indoors and outdoors – and activities to entertain and educate young people,” explained Morten Schmidt, founding partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects.
schmidt hammer lassen was commissioned due to their extensive experience designing large libraries and public buildings. Some of their most reputable works include the Royal Library in Copenhagen and the Aberdeen University New Library. Planned for completion this year (2014) is Aarhus’s new public library, Dokk1, and the Halifax Central Library in Canada. The practice was also recently awarded the commission to design Ningbo’s New Central Library.
