Recently visited the threatened South Norwood Library, London SE25, for open House Weekend. Had been meaning to go for a while but open House seemed like the ideal time to go and visit and meet the people running the campaign to get the building listed and stop Croydon Council from selling it off to a developer and its inevitable demolition for what is very likely to be yet more so called “luxury” flats..
The building is by Hugh Lea, Borough Architect for Croydon. Dates from 1968. Its a real little gem, Mesian modernist inspired with a bit of brutalism thrown in. Black painted concrete and steel frame with large expanses of original aluminium framed glazing. The levitating cantilevered cuboid volume of what was the Reading Room (now the children’s library) is expressed in randomly vertically ridged concrete with an exposed aggregate finish. Lighting to this space is via set back clerestory windows. The volume sits nicely on expressed beams projecting from the columns. Original, what I assume is, a black painted steel sign of unknown font.. Inside its far more interesting spatially than one might think from outside. Interlinked and split level volumes are all open plan to an open central staircase allowing fluid movement and visibility throughout. Its a very interesting layout for a small building.
The building has clearly been starved of funds and TLC for a long time. None of the original shelving and furniture appears to remain and whats there now is itself well past its sell by date. Needs a complete renovation and very likely new aluminium windows to match existing. The building certainly deserves to be listed and then renovated and in this case repurposed. I think it could make a great local Co-working Space or Artists spaces and gallery, but the building could I think be flexible enough for other options with minor internal planning modifications.
The Library is programmed to move to the ground floor of a new block of flats nearby within the next year or so, however the new unit is little more than a retail unit of little character and needs modifying at extra cost to make its suitable as a Library which is no great surprise!
Check out the Insta feed @brutalistlibrary which is dedicated to preventing the demolition of what is currently a Locally Listed building. The Library is open for one more day as part of Open House this coming Saturday the 11th of September so get yourself down there and make your own mind up, lend support & sign the petition. You don’t need to book just turn up!
Original signage on the grooved and exposed aggregate concrete.”Does exactly what it says on the tin” its a Library!
North Entrance elevation
Entrance area.
Part East elevation
East elevation
Interior view of Lending Hall & gallery
Interior view from gallery. Tried to get as close to the same position as the original perspective below…
Original Interior perspective
Original Sections drawings, showing the complexity of interrelated spaces.
Original Floor Plan drawings
Original North elevation drawing
Original East elevation drawing