b'Construction briefingGeneralFor the new Library of Birmingham project, two briefs were written. The first was a strategic brief that served as input for an international design competition. This brief discussed the spatial outlines of the project and the clients main ambitions. The second brief was written after the competition, not by the client but by the winning architectural firm (the Dutch firm Mecanoo). This was much more detailed. It specified all the spaces and their interrelations and listed the technical requirements. Input for this second brief came from interviews and workshops with library staff and other stakeholders such as the staff of the theatre that was also to be housed in the building. Strategic Functional TechnicalThe strategic brief for theGiven the projects aim to createThe number of technical project was a very ambitiousa welcoming and accessiblerequirements in the brief wasone. It stated that the projectplace, the design brief paid afairly limited. The brief should become nothing lesslot of attention to the buildingsoutlined general requirements than the best public library inentrance and foyer. It stressedfor essential systems, such the world. The central idea wasthat the entrance area should beas the security system and that building should not just be aspacious but not intimidatingthe rfid system for tracking place for books, but a and that the challenge was tobooks. It also contained basic community hub wheredesign a foyer which attractsrequirements for the acoustics people from all over the citynew visitors. In terms of userand temperature levels in the would gather for events,experience, the brief said thatrequested spaces.performances, education andthe foyer should offer a genuineA special point of attention was exhibitions. wow factor, enticing people tothe climatic conditions for the The brief stated that the newexplore further within, and thatarchive and heritage spaces, library should become theit should act as a platform towhere the librarys rare and place to be in Birmingham. Inlaunch visitors and users fragile historical collections line with this ambition, the briefto their chosen destination orwould be kept. To safeguard stressed that the building shouldto explore areas of interest orthese items, the brief stated that be welcoming and reach out todiscovery. A relation diagramthe archive and heritage spaces audiences who may have (see opposite page) explainedshould comply withpreviously thought that librarieshow the entrance area shouldthe relevant British Standards or theatres were not for them.work in terms of logistics, withInstitute standard (specifically, designated areas for the storagebs5454 Guide for the storage of buggies and prams, lockers, aand exhibition of archival reception desk and other materials) which contain visitor-oriented spaces. Similardetailed requirements diagrams and descriptions wereconcerning fire safety, security, made for all other areas in thetemperature levels, humidity, building. light levels/uv control, air quality and dust/ particle filtration. 225'