Katharine Stephen Rare Books Library

Library built in 1981-1982 to the designs of Joanna van Heyningen and Birkin Haward.

MATERIALS: steel frame clad in red and blue brick laid in stretcher bond. Roof covering of Code 4 lead laid on a timber structure.

PLAN: the building has a rectangular plan and is located on the south side of Sidgwick Avenue, at the north-east corner of the main college buildings.

It is linked to the early C21 library extension by a small lobby which is not included in the listing.

EXTERIOR: the small, two-storey building has a barrel-vaulted roof with semicircular lead hoppers which reflect its barrel form and a ridge skylight running its full length. The polychromatic brickwork is horizontally striped with alternating red and blue brick up to the gable heads which are solely of blue brick. The gable ends are pierced by two nine-pane, square ‘doll’s house’ windows of steel which is painted blue, one above the other. The longer side elevations are blind. Access is from the west side of the south elevation via a small glazed lobby (rebuilt in 2003) adjoining the library extension. The door has one large glazed panel and a security shutter has been fixed onto the outer face.

INTERIOR: this consists of a single double-height room with a gallery around all four sides. The walls are of white plasterboard lined with attached steel bookshelves. The gallery has a grille floor and is reached by a centrally placed, straight flight stair of steel with open risers, perforated treads and tubular banisters. The windows at either end have security bars directly over the original glazing bars and incorporate small seats inspired by those in the Old Library. The window seat on the ground-floor at the east end has been raised to accommodate a dehumidifier.