Beca's entry won the competition based on its unique re-interpretation of traditional building forms, and a clear understanding of the requirements of modern educational library design.
As the British International School (BIS) in Jakarta has grown over the years, new facilities have been added to meet the school's requirements.
Beca has worked closely with the school in designing many of these facilities. But when the BIS wanted to build a new purpose built Secondary School library, they decided to carry out a limited competition with three local architects and Beca to prepare concept designs for the building. As the site was a prominent central campus location, aesthetics were very important.
Beca's entry won the competition based on its unique re-interpretation of traditional building forms, and a clear understanding of the requirements of modern educational library design. The design was influenced by:
- the site – a relatively narrow site between two buildings, but with commanding views toward the main entrance of the campus
- the traditionally styled architectural context of the school - referencing an indigenous Torajan house form, the library is characterised by a linear plan, swaybacked roof spine, steep roof with cantilevered gables and exposed column supports
- the scale of adjacent buildings – the design employs a high stud at lower ground level, and the upper floor three meters above the upper ground level. This plus the high roof permitted the new building to stay in scale with the tall steep-roofed adjacent buildings
- integrating the functional requirements of a modern educational library.
The new library provides a spacious, highly serviced resource centre, which is in full accord with the changing trends and standards in modern library typology.