The New Building

a architect(s)
18 Firm Degelo Architekten, Itten + Brechbühl, Basel, www.degelo.net
19 Project Architect Herr Heinrich Degelo
20 Type of project new building (Renovation and new building rolled into one!)
b aims of the new building
21 Short description of the main objectives and purposes of the project The number of study spaces available was to be vastly increased, and a much more diversified and differentiated study and research environment planned. Quiet study spaces in the reading rooms and the access to the open stacks on the one hand were to be kept strictly separate from the necessarily louder and livelier group work areas and learning lounges (called "Parlatorium”) on the other.
The new building was also required to be capable of operating 24/7 and to provide an RFID-driven self-service infrastructure backed by a corresponding media transport system. At the same time, the area for the open stacks was to be increased by the conversion of the erstwhile underground car park. Last but not least, the building had to provide enough capacity to absorb one of the larger faculty libraries.
c special features
22 Site The university library is located at the very heart of the city, in immediate proximity to the university's humanities buildings.
23 Architecture The building’s key characteristic is its permeability between the – for the most part – freely accessible open-stacks and the non-circulating collection on the floors above. These also offer more than 1,700 study spaces for the patrons: from traditional quiet areas to modern learning lounges.

From the outset, the design aimed at allowing the library to offer 24/7 service and to provide an RFID-driven self-service infrastructure, backed by a corresponding media transport system.