The Creative Core, a leading visitor experience designer for museums, heritage and culture, has shared details of its work on a major renovation project at Bolton Library, UK. This multi-million-pound redevelopment was funded by the UK government’s Towns Fund and connected to broader regeneration initiatives for Bolton town centre.
Bolton Council commissioned The Creative Core to design and deliver the new library, in collaboration with Bolton Libraries and Museums Service, jmarchitects, Robertson Group (primary contractor), and Clear Futures (project consultants).
Bolton’s Central Library has been located in the Grade II-listed Le Mans Crescent in the town’s cultural and civic area since the 1930s, and sits alongside the Bolton Museum and Art Gallery. The redeveloped library has recently reopened to visitors.
Jim Parkin, lead consultant, The Creative Core, says: “We are thrilled with the new library and the fantastic reception it has received from both users, staff and the sector. Bolton Central Library is emblematic of our approach to library design, which gives local libraries the tools and infrastructure to become vibrant cultural hubs promoting literacy, creativity, inclusion and wellbeing.”
Bespoke library designs
The Creative Core has built a reputation for designing museums, however, it is also pioneering the design of bespoke and interactive libraries that reflect a sense of place and meet the needs of local communities.
Sam Elliott, head of service, Bolton Libraries and Museums, shares: “We chose the Creative Core to design Bolton Central Library because we have delivered successful projects together in the past and we knew they would encourage us to be brave with the design.
“The result is a beautiful modern library space which reflects how our visitors want to engage with us. The space is full of visual surprises, particularly our playful early years area and a flexible central indoor plaza where cultural programming such as author, music and theatre events can take place. The public response has been hugely positive. Our visitors are pleased that the heritage features of the building have been retained whilst also creating an impressive creative space.”
The Creative Core created a design which reflects the changing ways people use local libraries. It prioritises individual and communal reading, flexible spaces for activities and creativity, better social spaces, and increased digital inclusion, and is closely aligned to key health and wellbeing outcomes.
Flexible space
Visitors enter Bolton Library through a portal which takes them straight to the middle of the space. Here they will find a welcome desk and seating, surrounded by rows of bookshelves which radiate outwards from this central point.
The central section also serves as a versatile cultural programming space, which can easily adapt for storytelling and author events, music and theatre, and even pop-up discos. To complement the building’s Art Deco architecture, The Creative Core created dramatic shelving monoliths that define the space while offering intriguing views around the library.
In addition, a newly designed children’s area features bright fairy-tale buildings and tactile elements to promote reading, creativity, and play.
The Creative Core built and installed the library scheme with support from its in-house team and capabilities.
Recently, The Creative Core revealed that it is working with the Peace Museum to create new exhibition and engagement spaces at Salts Mill in Saltaire, a World Heritage Site in West Yorkshire, UK.
