Swiss Cottage Library, Swiss Cottage, London

Entry Name: Swiss Cottage Library

Listing Date: 2 December 1997

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1272259

English Heritage Legacy ID: 476629

ID on this website: 101272259

Location: South Hampstead, Camden, London, NW3

County: London

District: Camden

Electoral Ward/Division: Swiss Cottage

Parish: Non Civil Parish

Built-Up Area: Camden

Traditional County: Middlesex

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater London

Church of England Parish: St Mary Primrose Hill

Church of England Diocese: London

Tagged with: Public library Architectural structure

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Hampstead

Description

CAMDEN

TQ2684SE AVENUE ROAD
798-1/61/1895 (East side)
02/12/97 Swiss Cottage Library

Public library. 1963-4, for the Borough of Hampstead by Sir
Basil Spence, Bonnington and Collins. Reinforced concrete
frame on 10' grid clad in pre-cast black basalt concrete
spandrel panels between projecting and finely-finished
concrete fins with Portland stone aggregate, all set over
smooth raised basement and ground floor of Portland stone and
concrete - painted. Asphalt on concrete roof slab. The
cigar-shaped plan is a complex one, the entrance at
ground-floor level on the highest, northern end of the site,
the ground floor and basements otherwise housing offices,
services and bookstacks, whilst stairs lead to a double-height
central foyer at first-floor level. Children's library to side
of this; to north and south respectively lending and reference
libraries on two levels each with two pairs of spiral stairs
to balcony. Music library over children's library on second
floor, reached through reference library which also includes
work rooms for private study and offices.
The projecting fins of Portland stone aggregate at 2'6"
intervals are the dominant feature of the building, contrasted
with the darker panels in between. Aluminium windows.
INTERIOR: aluminium also used extensively internally in the
vertical divides to the glazed screens preferred to solid
walls through most of the public interiors. This verticality
is repeated in the slender steel balustrades to the reference
and lending libraries' balcony fronts and internal stairs.
White perforated aluminium ceilings with recessed fluorescent
light fittings a necessary complement to the extensive use of
diffused, borrowed light through the building; terrazzo
floors. Original bookcases and fixed desks, the latter notably
in reference area; some original signage survives on ground
and first floors.
Swiss Cottage Library and the adjacent baths were all that
were built of an intended new civic centre for Hampstead, the
scheme abandoned because of local authority reorganisation in
1965. It is one of Spence's most accomplished civic buildings,
and amongst the most ambitious architectural designs for a
library found anywhere.
(Architects Journal: 29 January 1959; Architects Journal: 25
November 1964; Architect and Building News: 11 November 1964;
Opening Brochure of the Queen's Visit: November 1964).

Listing NGR: TQ2677784180

External Links

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