OUGD406 STUDIO BRIEF 3 - LEEDS CENTRAL LIBRARY VISIT

As we were designing the exhibition branding for an exhibition help in Leeds Central Library, I thought it best to go and visit the library itself, as I had never been before, and see what the library itself was like, and the space we would be exhibiting in as well.
I thought the mosaic and stone pillar architectural aspects of the library really interesting and unusual to see, especially as it clashed with the appearance of the very white, neutral exhibition space. I didn't get a chance to go into the exhibition space however, because there was a talk going on in there, and I couldn't just walk in in the middle of it taking photos.

Photographs:

Patterned tiles create a mosaic appearance on the underside of the stairs. Blue and white is very simple, almost clinical or like pottery, contrasting against the stone.

Beautiful flower stained glass windows.

Arches in the main centre of the library, adorned with complex details.

Mosaic patterned walls. Uses the same blue and brown colour scheme the rest of the building employs.

Metal ornamental bannisters stop you from falling down the stairs. The same flowery design as the stained glass windows.

View from the stairs.

Contrasting with the very old part of the library, one corridor looks very contemporary with white wood, although still has the same arched effect on the ceiling to the rest of the building.

Exit from the music library. This is much more contemporary in comparison, with spot lights giving the colour to the windows and door. Pink and red surprisingly feminine colours to be used together. The "way out" sign uses a very simple sans serif typeface, easy to read and contemporary, it'll never date, and a simple arrow to show the way through the door as well.

This is the corridor leaving to the exhibition space we will use for the exhibition, called "The Arts Space" here. The doors on the right lead to the space, which are clear glass sliding doors very contemporary and minimal, matching the corridor. 

This is the entrance to the Music Library, again the same pink and purple signage as the exit (same door for entrance and exit). Only on this side you can read the sign "arts floor" and the name of the floor, to help people recognise what floor they're on and what's on this floor. There's also two signs on the door, one on the other side of the "way out" sign, reading "music library", and above the door there's perhaps the sign saying what section this room is under "music and performing art".

more mosaics on the floor, this time much more complicated, still the same flower design, perhaps a common feature in mosaics, metalwork and stained glass.

The underside of the stairs was also really interesting, which you can see here, this very art deco style white pattern, sticking out from the stairs itself. It's a lot more geometrical than a lot of the other design aspects of the library, and being painted white helps air out the library a bit, as all the mosaics and stone can make it look rather dingy.

The library is a very tall building, which is shown in this view from the ground floor up to all the levels and the glass roof.

This visit to Leeds Central Library has been really useful to me, as it gave me an idea of the kind or place we were dealing with, what kind of architectural aspects we should take into consideration, and the great contrast between the very old fashioned and mosaic style of most of the library except for the arts floor, which is very contemporary and neutral.