Cardiff Central Library

We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.

<li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/8a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/5a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/6a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/7a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/9a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/10a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/11a_cardiff_int3.jpg" alt=" BDP" /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/11b_cardiff_int.jpg" alt=" " /> </div></li><li class="carousel-slide carousel-slide_transition_fade carousel-slide_project"><div class="carouselSlideImage carouselSlideImage_transition_fade carouselSlideImage_project" data-options="{"disableIf":".disableCarousel","pauseRotationIfMouse":false,"rotationInterval":8}"> <div class="carouselTitle"> <div class="cookiePolicy cookiePolicy_inline"> <a href="/en/policies/privacy-notice/" class="cookiePolicy-text">We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Please read our privacy policy and cookies pages for more. By continuing to use this site you agree to our policies.</a> <button class="button button_cookieClose js-hideCookieBanner" type="button"> <svg class="icon icon_cookieClose icon_icon_cookie-close"> <use xlink:href="/images/assets/icons.svg#icon-cookie-close"></use> </svg> <span class="button-label button-label_cookieClose button-label_icon">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <img class="carouselSlideImage-img carouselSlideImage-img_transition_fade carouselSlideImage-img_project" src="/globalassets/projects/cardiff-central-library/12_cardiff_int.jpg" alt=" " /> </div></li>

Facts

Location	Client	Cost	Completion	Awards
Cardiff, Wales, UK	St David’s Partnership (A partnership between Land Securities and Capital Shopping Centres), Cardiff County Council	£15m	March 2009	6

Project details

A modern 21st Century library as part of a city centre redevelopment.

A state-of-the-art 6-storey library, which forms part of the St David’s re-development scheme in Cardiff city.

The internal space, full of colour and natural light, is designed to achieve an open and legible internal environment, creating an atmosphere in which all members of the community can enjoy learning, contemplation and relaxation. The building is designed to have a different look from the rest of the development - the cladding is inspired by the random appearance of books on shelves and it has an insulating sedum grass roof.

At ground floor level are restaurants and internally all furniture was specially selected and the shelving is bespoke.

Implementing sustainable design early on enabled the delivery a BREEAM Excellent ‘rated’ building for less then 0.5% of the construction cost.

It looks very intriguing. It's bright, slightly brash, but at the same time aesthetically pleasing.
Malcolm Parry former head of Welsh School of Architecture