Ghent, 2017.
In 2009 an architectural competition was organised for a public place with lots of space for reading, learning and living in the city. In this digital era, a city library’s role has changed. In a society which offers an abundance of information, there is a need to help people navigate the available knowledge. Where it used to be a place for sheer lending, now it needs to be a place for reading, learning and living. It is still an oasis of peace and quiet, with the same extensive collections, but it offers more cosy reading corners and quiet reading and study areas. It is also a place to meet people during lectures or debates, to develop skills in workshops, to experiment in the ‘maker’s lab’, to collaborate in research, to study and much more. There is a structural partnership with Ghent University and Imec Research and Development centre. The University gets opportunities to present its research to the outside world and involve visitors in academic activities. Imec brings innovation closer to the public, they strongly believe that innovation with a positive impact on society can only be achieved if companies, the research world, citizens and the government join forces.