Whitechapel Library, Whitechapel, London

Occupying the former site of the English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, the Whitechapel Library reimagines a key urban site as a vital civic space. Designed to serve as connective tissue for one of London’s most culturally rich and diverse communities, the project fuses architecture, landscape, and public programming into a cohesive whole.

The site is transformed into a public park, with the library emerging from the ground as a sculptural extension of this green terrain. Landscaped roof terraces are fully accessible, allowing the building to function as both library and green promenade. At ground level, the plan establishes a porous link between South Tenter Street and Alie Street, stitching together the neighborhood.

Architecturally, the library is composed as a set of sculpted volumes—distinct yet interdependent—whose seams form a central north–south pedestrian passage. The facades balance transparency, playfulness, and solidity through the use of glass bricks, colorful patterned ceramics, and green planted surfaces, creating a composition that is at once fresh, welcoming, and tactile.

Family-friendly zones are carefully integrated, with soft seating and curated collections placed to encourage exploration and informal learning. Every aspect of the interior—from sight-lines to surface details—has been designed to foster community engagement and a sense of shared ownership.

Internally, the building prioritizes openness and light. Large, colored transparent façades filter daylight into a continuous and fluid interior. Intricately crafted wood screens divide the space with elegance and precision, creating zones for reading, research, and gathering without disrupting visual continuity. Warm maple paneling reinforces the natural material palette and tactile richness of the design.