Des Moines Public Library

The library forms part of a new park at the edge of the city centre, an area undergoing extensive redevelopment, and is meant to become a centrepiece of urban renewal.

Placed at the east end of the park, it links the downtown with the green space. The British design team made it respond to the city block while stretching out into the parkland, creating outdoor spaces of different character and the feeling of reading in the park. A flexible gallery space forms part of a public route through the building, blurring the threshold between library and park.

The stacks are arranged so that the park is always in view. Beyond the books, the library holds education rooms, children’s areas and a conference wing with a café. Its glass envelope holds a layer of copper mesh that softens the light and gives the building a warm glow.