Edinburgh University Library
Edinburgh University’s Main Library opened in late summer 1967 and was designed by Sir Basil Spence’s architectural partnership Spence, Glover & Ferguson. Demolition work on the George Square site for the library began in November 1964. Many have never forgiven the university for redeveloping most of the original buildings in the square which dates from 1766. Basil Spence (1907-76) was appointed planning consultant for the university and was first asked to design a new library in 1955.
Described as ‘mannered modernism at its best’ in the Edinburgh volume of The Buildings of Scotland, the main library is ‘A’ listed. Originally it cost £2.1m (including £400,000 for furnishings and equipment). It accommodated two million books, with 2,500 reader places and 114 staff. At completion, it was the largest university library in Britain www.basilspence.org.uk/learning/buildings/edinburgh-unive....
The main library underwent a £60m redevelopment project which has been completed. Read more about it in this archived article from Celsius: libraryarchitecture.wikispaces.com/University+of+Edinburg...
This image was taken during the Covid-19 pandemic when restrictions were in force in Scotland.
Edinburgh University Library
Edinburgh University’s Main Library opened in late summer 1967 and was designed by Sir Basil Spence’s architectural partnership Spence, Glover & Ferguson. Demolition work on the George Square site for the library began in November 1964. Many have never forgiven the university for redeveloping most of the original buildings in the square which dates from 1766. Basil Spence (1907-76) was appointed planning consultant for the university and was first asked to design a new library in 1955.
Described as ‘mannered modernism at its best’ in the Edinburgh volume of The Buildings of Scotland, the main library is ‘A’ listed. Originally it cost £2.1m (including £400,000 for furnishings and equipment). It accommodated two million books, with 2,500 reader places and 114 staff. At completion, it was the largest university library in Britain www.basilspence.org.uk/learning/buildings/edinburgh-unive....
The main library underwent a £60m redevelopment project which has been completed. Read more about it in this archived article from Celsius: libraryarchitecture.wikispaces.com/University+of+Edinburg...
This image was taken during the Covid-19 pandemic when restrictions were in force in Scotland.