Tower Hamlets, London, has opened the third and most important new type of library designed to attract the greatest number of readers in the age of television and Internet dominance.
Fashion architect David Adjaye reached fame at an unusually early age for the profession: he designed the Nobel Center in Oslo and the Museum of Fine Arts in Denver, even though he is under forty.
But in conditions of a limited budget and a broad program of requirements, it was in the projects of municipal libraries that his talent manifested itself most clearly.
Whitechapel's Idea Store is located a few miles from the Crisp Street branch, also built by Ajaye. Like all other libraries in the series, it is built near a large shopping center.
With an area of 4645 sq. m this educational center is five times larger than the traditional "idea store". It will replace two of the area's existing libraries.
Along with the traditional departments, there will be visitor attraction facilities such as a dance studio and a health center.
The five-story volume is decorated externally like the library on Crisp Street - with multi-colored glass panels. On the south side, the four upper floors protrude from the sidewalk. The main entrance is also located there. The building has three entrances, made possible by technology that allows readers to register books they borrow on their own.
This added more freedom to visitors compared to the strict procedures that are intimidating in traditional libraries.
Escalators and stairs are located in the center of the building, making it easier for people to move around the floors. The ceilings of the premises are decorated with exposed concrete beams of the structure.
