Edinburgh in for design award

The Tree of Knowledge

The Children’s Library includes an under-fives flexible space to hold events such as Bookbug (rhymes and songs for 0-3 years) and author events, an age 5 – 12’s area, an Arts & Craft room and new family-friendly toilet facilities.

A ‘Tree of Knowledge’ with shelves as branches and cosy nook inside the trunk forms a haven for both children and parents to read together and watch colour changing lights around the branches.

Specially designed shelving units sit within recessed window areas and concealed benches form additional seating during events, ‘reading nooks’ with LED up-light sited behind units wash the walls in magnificent colours that change and enhance the space, a great attraction as you walk past the building at night. Artwork by children’s illustrator Catherine Rayner also appears throughout the space.

The Music section in the Mezzanine Area includes a newly designed glazed balustrade increasing the natural light in the area. A bespoke CD unit holds the libraries entire collection with new listening stations for downloadable music, DVD shelves wrap around the pillars. An acoustic pod can be booked out and new lighting in the area creates a modern and contemporary feel.

The refurbishment was designed by the Interior Design & Electrical section of the City of Edinburgh Council's Building Programme Team, and then created and manufactured by the Frem Group, the home of FG Library Products who have designed and delivered a number of innovative library projects.