Project overview
London
The new Business and Intellectual Property Centre designed by Eldridge is the first architectural project undertaken within the British Library since the building opened in 1998. Constructed within one of the existing reading rooms, the new centre provides a unique resource for small businesses, inventors and entrepreneurs to benefit from the Library’s collections and specialist advisors.
The centre is an oasis of contemporary design and technology within the more conservative environment of the reading rooms but acknowledging the high standard of the existing building, Eldridge has matched this with materials and detailing of a comparable quality. A series of glazed meeting rooms provides a lightweight intervention within the existing fabric, with privacy achieved through the use of an innovative view control film to prevent passing readers seeing in.
We continued to work with the library for 10 years designing a children’s education centre, the staff canteen, display walls for the Pearson Gallery, bespoke furniture, and signage across the British Library estate.
