Borrowing and visitor numbers to the UK's new £189m (US$307m, €237m) Library of Birmingham – designed as both a library and a visitor attraction – by Mecanoo Architects, have doubled in comparison to its predecessor, the old Central Library.
The Library of Birmingham, which opened on to the public on 3 September 2013, has had more than 2.7 million people come through its doors over the last year.
Figures released by Birmingham City Council show that membership numbers have increased at the new library by 140 per cent on last year's figures, totalling more than a quarter of a million individuals.
Dutch-based Mecanoo Architecten designed the 35,000sq m (376,736sq ft) library, which is spread over nine floors and centres on a pivotal atrium at the heart of the building. The design lends itself to being a truly public and civic building, as demonstrated by the high visitor numbers.
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