Crossley Street Library

A playful new reading space in historic Victorian school

Project summary

  • Client: Crossley Street Primary School
  • Location: Wetherby
  • Sector: Education / Interiors
  • Status: Completed

Story

How to encourage childhood reading in the digital age?

This small education project reimagines the approach to a school library, introducing joy and play to a traditional learning environment. By providing children a space to read, space to play, space for the class to come together or a nook to read on your own, this small room is transformed in to a multi-use space which encourages positive attitudes to books and reading.

Working collaboratively with stakeholders including teachers, parents and pupils, a playful form emerged, introducing joinery structures that reference the famed local Wetherby Bridge. Introducing a mezzanine level responds to the childrens’ heights, providing usable accessible space at formerly redundant high level. Children are encouraged to climb, sit, lie and play, reflecting the different ways in which we engage with books and reading.

Axonometric, Crossley Street Library | Education
Crossley Street Library | Education