Romanian Public Libraries Architecture between Tradition and Modernity

Claudia Lungu
Moto: If we should choose a subject that has to be on the
architects will and, in the same time, to excite his genius,
this is the project of a public library. 1
tienne-Louis Boulle
Abstract
The architecture is the most comprehensive way of organizing the space and its purpose is to settle, in a
balanced and congruous way, the complex and versatile functions of space. Many of the Romanian public
libraries do not have a suited architecture because they operate in improper spaces, which were built for
other purposes. The buildings, with different architectonic styles, were formerly used as seats for different
administrative institutions, cultural foundations, local bank branches and even hotels or private residences.
Usually, these buildings are located in or near the centre and represent important cultural, architectural
and historical landmarks for the community.
Having different architectonic styles, from classic to modern and contemporary, in most of the cases the
buildings are not able to assure adequate conditions for a good library activity.
The study carried out by the National Library of Romania pointed the main reasons which influenced, in
the last 15 years, the speeding up for the construction of new library buildings, with modern and
multifunctional architecture: legal status of the buildings, preservation condition of the buildings, collection
growth rate, the need for storage spaces, the need to diversify and modernize librarys services, the need
to incorporate the libraries into a dynamic community environment with multiple changes on every level,
especially the one regarding information.
National Library of Romania; Architecture; Public Libraries
Introduction
A library construction is complied with the political will, libraries missions and collections
development politics, limits for the emplacement as well as the talent and the personality of the architect.
Thus, a library project must answer to three essential missions: that of documents preservation, that of
durability and that of offering to the users an easily and quickly spaces identification.
There should be existing a tight connection between cultural and city/urban development politics.
The building of a library represent a tool within the politic of a collectivity; it is a democratization tool and a
urban structure tool, being, in the same time, and a tool of images politic. The library, by its self, and the
library building constitute the image of the community. The community identity must be retrieved in library
1

tienne-Louis Boulle (1728-1799), LArchitecte visionnaire et no-classique, d. par Jean-Marie Prouse de Montclos, Hermann,
1993, p. 129 apud Ouvrages et volumes : Architecture et bibliothques. ed. Anne-Marie Bertrand et Anne Kupiec ; avec la
collaboration de Joseph Belmont, Michel Melot,.... Paris : ditions du Cercle de la Librairie, 1997, p. 33

architecture representation, as well as in its functions as libraries are developing depending on community
exigencies.
Nowadays the traditional role of a library that of valuating the cultural heritage is enriched
through permanent learning concept, as well as by new valences of its information functions at social,
economic, legislative level.
Context
Public libraries in Romania are going over a period of transition from the traditional concept of a
library with a close, rigid, dominating, limited destination and functionality architecture and space
organization, towards the modern concept, more familiar, more opened, more dynamic, with a destination
that aims to malleable inclusion of all categories of users.
These aspects are emphasized by the following study results.
The National Library of Romania carried out, together with the Romanian Committee for the
History and Philosophy of the Science and Technics The History of Constructions Group a
questionnaire directed to 40 Romanian municipal and county public libraries, plus NLR. The
questionnaire pointed out the relevant aspects connected with the construction of new library buildings
the current destination (usage), initial destination, the year of the construction, the authors of the building
projects, the space organization, the cultural value, etc.
Typology
Taking into account two main criteria from the architecture point of view, institutional and
functional, there are noticed more types of public libraries buildings:
The initial destination:
- buildings designed with the specific library destination: Ioan N Roman Constana County
Library, Petre Dulfu Maramure CL, Antim Ivireanu Vlcea CL, Panait Cerna Tulcea CL,
Radu Rosetti Oneti ML, GT Kirileanu Neam CL, Mure CL, Dinicu Golescu Arge CL,
Octavian Goga Cluj CL.
- buildings designed with other initial destinations:
commercial space: Ion Minulescu Olt CL, tefan Bnulescu Ialomia CL,
administrative, justice, prefecture palace: Gheorghe Asachi Iai CL, Vasile Voiculescu Buzu CL
hotel: V.A. Urechia Galai CL
the state archives: Nicolae Milescu Sptaru Vaslui CL
museum, theater: I.H. Rdulescu Dimbovia CL, Theodor Costescu Library, Mehedini
more destinations party committee, agricultural direction, design institute, young communists (UTC)
headquarter, etc.: A.D. Xenopol Arad CL, I.G. Sbiera Suceava CL
Affiliation to the national cultural heritage:
- buildings that belong to the national cultural heritage: CL Botoani 1926, CL Buzu 1914, CL
Clrai 1888, CL Covasna - 1830-1832, CL Galai 1883, CL Giurgiu 1885, CL Deva 1890, CL Iai
1906, CL Drobeta Turnu Severin - 1921-1924, CL Trgu Mure - 1911-1913, CL Focani the end of
XIX, CL Craiova - 1850-1855, CL Trgu Jiu - 1928

- buildings that do not belong to the national cultural heritage, but are important on the local level:
CL Arad - 1900-1910, CL Bistria 1903, CL Braov - 1928-1930, CL Suceava - 1925-1929, CL Timioara
- 1727-1812.
- new buildings : Ioan N Roman Constana CL, Petre Dulfu Maramure CL, Antim Ivireanu Vlcea CL,
Panait Cerna Tulcea CL, Radu Rosetti Oneti ML, GT Kirileanu Neam CL, Mure CL, Dinicu
Golescu Arge CL, Octavian Goga Cluj CL.
It can be easily noticed that most buildings, initially, were not designed to house libraries and that
in proportion of 85% these buildings have housed other types of institutions.
Consequences
-

the difficulty to adjust the space to the functionality

the difficulty of library modern services implementation (Internet, WI-FI)

limited free access to the collections and resources

the burden of working flow

adoption and development of public libraries specific services that aim to

incorporate the library into a dynamic community and fulfilling their information
requirements (The Community Information Centers have been developed, with
priority, in libraries that have had new buildings, therefore new adequate spaces:
Cluj, Constana, etc.)

the need to reorganize the inside space, thus making it more attractive and
satisfying the requirements of all users categories (for example: lack of recreation
spaces, lack of spaces dedicated to children that are coming to the library to
develop various types of activities).

Conclusions
Most of the libraries need new buildings. Patrimonial buildings must be supported further on in
respect of maintaining and restoration.
There are some positive examples in the meaning of taking the necessary steps for a restoration
not only of the public libraries buildings, but also of the public library. Between years 2002 2008 the
Metropolitan Library has been given funds for restoration and redesigning inside spaces of the central
headquarter as well as new headquarters for the branches afferent to each city district.
National Library of Romania
The National Library of Romania is the institution that represent one of the most relevant cases
concerning the development of public libraries from traditional to modernity.
The building that, beginning with year 1957, houses the central headquarter of the Library has
been constructed in 1907 as the central headquarter of the Chamber of Commerce. As one of the
important monuments for the Bucharests architecture in modern age, the building reveres French
architecture tradition. For this project the designer STEFAN BURCUS has been awarded with the French
Academy award.

The new building of the National Library, a main objective for the Romanian culture, will answer to
some older wishes and needs, which could not be accomplished up to the present, according to the
requirements imposed and similar to the European achievements of high reputation. The areas meant for
the Library will assure multiple functions in order to achieve a generous interesting and attractive cultural
center, in accordance with the significance of the institution.
Conceived in the style of classical architecture but adulterated by decorations, the building
contains, from the architectural point of view, symbolic elements for the city ensemble and period of
Socialism Victory, making up a living history of the end of communist dictatorship age and of the return to
the democratic society.
Thus, beginning with 1986 the construction was started following an obsolete technological and
conceptual project; in 1989 the faades were frozen, and between 1991 2003 some inside works were
sporadically done following the initial project; in the year 2004 the project (drawn up in 1986) was partly
revised in order that in 2006 the Ministry of Culture to decide the change of the construction into an
ensemble set up by a cultural center and the National Library. Nowadays the library building is
accomplished in proportion of 40%, partly being given to usage for storage spaces while the body of the
Aula has an undetermined structure.
The new concept of national library and cultural centre includes:
areas meant for the national library:

specialized lecture halls ca. 14000 sqm

storage spaces 35000 sqm

employees offices 8000 sqm

technical spaces

areas meant to cultural center:

the aula 400 seats

halls for conferences

polyvalent areas for meetings, events and cultural relations

multimedia halls

areas for international contacts

culture for children

recreation spaces.

The new glass faade is a volumetric division, like a second skin, that, critically, allows the old
gold age faade to be seen. Digital age language elements are overlapped on this surface (serigraphs
on the glass with texts extracted from books and images of the demolished buildings).
The history of the National Library new headquarter construction is an living example of the fact
that the decision of raising a library is an intricate act that implies a lot of factors decision, funding, users,
- as well as heterogeneous elements, like: cultural, town-planning, economic, politic. However, any of
these elements do not hold the entire control on the specific field.

For the time being Architects and librarians are not in a perfect harmony, but at least they do not
ignore each others2. Both librarians and architects should be aware of the fact that, beyond times, trends
and functionalities, the LIBRARY is a symbol of a nations culture, and in respects of this, a library building
must, always, put together the aesthetic aspect with the utilitarian one, without giving up one in front of
other.

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