Hackney Central Library

Embracing Heritage, Nature, and Neighbourhood

Found within one of London’s most diverse and trendy neighbourhoods, Hackney Central Library has been transformed.  Alongside the beautiful books, the new library also features plants, murals, exhibitions, artworks, and even a mini grand piano! 

Thedesignconcept secured the project by winning an Open Design Competition, where we displayed our interior design expertise. With collaborative design throughout, Hackney has been welcomed as a breath of fresh air and we are delighted with the results. 

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New purpose for the library

Libraries must change, grow, and rethink their purpose, and we applaud the forward-thinking approach of the library leadership and teams, who we believe have struck the perfect balance with this library.

Working with artists and designers Sion Ap Tomos, Skye Baker and Emily Jost, who created the artwork and patterns with over 100 children, we integrated the artwork seamlessly into our overall design.

The artwork in the library is nothing short of spectacular. Key furniture pieces and bespoke elements used throughout pair well with all this creativity.

The libraries development team worked closely with artists and children from the local schools; Gayhurst Primary and Stormont House who helped create the inspiring mural in the children’s area. 

Focus on the history and heritage

Next to where the library stands was once the home of the Loddiges’ Nursery’s palm house - then the largest hot house in Europe. renowned for its biophilic wonders. The refurbished library embraces that rich heritage.

Hackney as a borough is a historically diverse and culturally rich area, founding grassroots art movements and upholding strong traditions that bleed into the ‘Hackneyness’ spirit.

To honor this, our designers researched the global trade in plants and trees, as the famous glass house was built in 1825 to showcase trees and plants from across the globe.

The specific greenery details of the resulting artwork were paired with natural lighting hues to embrace biophilic design which are proven benefits for mental wellbeing.

This clear use of flora helped us reimagine the background of the space within modern design in a positive and uplifting way.

Solo haven or social studying

Placing social gathering and collective study areas throughout also allows users to intermix with those around them also utilising the space or find their own haven in some of the zones created with the shelving. Informational staff points have been introduced throughout and clear wayfinding, and adaptable seating /desking solutions were provided for heightened accessibility.

Gone is the old colour scheme of the library, replaced with much more vibrant and welcoming finishes that make the mind more open to creativity, focused study and reading time.

Zones were coordinated to shape multi generationalism, shown with the curved open-exposure of the children’s section leading through to the rest of the library. Perfect for parents and their little ones to simultaneously enjoy their community hub of literature and learning together.  The children’s library biophilic features further embedded the overall theme with sensory exposure, such as our acoustic soft seating and interactive light/sound elements in the sensory huts.

As a team, we always make sure to work closely with our community pillars, whether that be council representatives, the users of our libraries, or their amazing librarians and development teams. We consistently ensure close collaboration with our key community partners, including council representatives, library users, and the dedicated librarians and creative development teams who support them. We’re grateful to have had such a forward-thinking experience with the Hackney Central Library team throughout the project process. This project is an example of how a client and design team can collaborate and share ideas, resulting in a very special project that we know will be admired far and wide.

Designed sustainability for a responsible future 

FSC certified wood and other natural elements were foundational to the pieces we selected to go hand-in-hand with this theme.

Local artist contribution

Residents from the local community also contributed to the very special artwork that has been used in bespoke fabric on key pieces of furniture throughout the library, and a bold wallpaper for one wall.

Artist Jazz Grant created the mural ‘To Travel this Ship’ in celebration of the Windrush generation, of which she is a descendent.

A comfortable place to stay

A key design direction was to also make the best use of the 3 light-wells in the space to incentivise natural productivity, with study stations being strategically placed beneath them to add to the user experience.

Students use Hackney Central Library in large numbers and we wanted to ensure that we accommodated large numbers of them, but at the same time, designed the library to accommodate multigenerational users who would be able to find their “own space” within the library.

Don't Just Take It From Us

“The Design Concept were excellent partners for the Hackney Central Library refurbishment.

They really tuned into the distinctive, creative spirit and energy of Hackney, and have successfully transformed the space into a vibrant hub for the whole community.

We love how they integrated nature into the design and we are grateful for their willingness to collaborate with our creative staff, library users and local artists on the murals, wallpapers and design features.

This inclusive approach was brilliant because it ensured the library was genuinely designed with the people who use it, and their influence is evident throughout.

This project is a perfect example of how well a client and design team can work together. We are delighted with the outcome and the overwhelmingly positive feedback we've received from the community”.

- Emma Winch, Head of Cultural Transformation, Hackney Council

Take a tour inside Hackney Central Library

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