Katharine Stephen Rare Books Library

The Katharine Stephen Rare Books Library is a building constructed between 1981 and 1982, designed by Joanna van Heyningen and Birkin Haward. It features a steel frame clad in red and blue brick laid in stretcher bond, with a roof covered in Code 4 lead on a timber structure. The library has a rectangular plan and is situated on the south side of Sidgwick Avenue, at the north-east corner of the main college buildings. It is connected to a 21st-century library extension by a small lobby that is not included in the listing.

The exterior of this small, two-storey building showcases a barrel-vaulted roof with semicircular lead hoppers that echo its barrel shape, along with a ridge skylight that runs the entire length of the roof. The polychromatic brickwork features horizontal stripes of alternating red and blue bricks up to the gable heads, which are made solely of blue brick. The gable ends are adorned with two nine-pane, square ‘doll’s house’ windows made of blue-painted steel, stacked one above the other. The longer side elevations are blind. Access to the library is from the west side of the south elevation through a small glazed lobby, which was rebuilt in 2003, that adjoins the library extension. The entrance door includes one large glazed panel and has a security shutter affixed to the outer face.

Inside, the library consists of a single double-height room with a gallery encircling all four sides. The walls are lined with white plasterboard and attached steel bookshelves. The gallery features a grille floor and is accessible via a centrally placed, straight flight of steel stairs with open risers, perforated treads, and tubular banisters. The windows at either end are fitted with security bars over the original glazing bars and include small seats inspired by those in the Old Library. Notably, the window seat on the ground floor at the east end has been elevated to accommodate a dehumidifier.