Adjaye Associates’ William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Library Responds to a Hilly Site in Washington, DC

London-based architecture firm <a title="" href="http://www.adjaye.com/" target="_blank">Adjaye Associates</a> recently completed a pair of LEED-certified community libraries in Washington, DC. The first, which we've <a href="http://inhabitat.com/david-adjayes-francis-a-gregory-library-is-a-beautiful-light-flooded-library-in-washington-dc/">covered previously on Inhabitat</a>, is the <a href="http://www.dclibrary.org/francis">Francis A. Gregory Library</a>; the second is the <a href="http://www.dclibrary.org/bellevue">William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Library</a>, which opened earlier this year. The site of the Bellvue library features a 40-foot change in grade, and architect David Adjaye decided to create a collection of elevated forms that descend from the steep slope.

n 2010, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/adjaye-associates/">Adjaye Associates</a> won a competition to design two new neighborhood libraries for Washington, DC.

Both of the new libraries are energy efficient, and they both respond to the natural landscape and surroundings.

The entrance to the library is located beneath the elevated reading rooms, creating a sheltered outdoor space for bike parking.

Inside, the library's central stacks and main reading room are located in the main volume.

Other different reading rooms geared towards children and teens are located on separate volumes.

Because most of the public space in the library is lifted above street level, it provides visitors with excellent views of the surrounding neighborhood.

“Communities need empowering buildings – and this neighbourhood library is all about the creation of a strong beacon for its community," explained Adjaye.

The primary act of public architecture is to create spaces that are socially edifying and socially liberating – using design excellence as a social force that makes good," says Adjaye. "This is at the heart of my work, so it is very exciting to see this building welcome its community through its doors.”

The geometric forms all feature vertical timber fins on the exterior, which creates a visual link between the different shapes.

A large, green-tinted light well cuts through the middle of the Bellvue Library, bringing natural light to the center of the building.

Other rooms are similarly brightly colored; the stairways are a striking yellow, and the reading rooms range from dark red to blue.

In addition to the natural daylighting, the building features energy-efficient lighting, both inside and out.

The 23,000-square-foot library cost $13 million to build.