In this series, we're taking a closer look at some of the local landmarks that have been designed and built in the North East by NBS customers using NBS software.
The interactive physical environment is not solely a repository for books; it has been designed to provide each visitor with the ability to express their creativity, providing a gateway to cultural, social and entrepreneurial exploration. As a result, the building has been incredibly successful in capturing the imagination of age groups which would not usually be associated with this type of building.
The Word’s circular form represents the fanned out pages of a book, sensitively assembled from a palette of materials which celebrates the buildings historic surroundings. The building’s interior contains a wide variety of spaces ranging from the dramatic central forum, to more personal reading spaces situated out towards the edge of the building. The Word’s spatial planning is organised as a sequence of experiences which takes the visitor on a personal journey of discovery.
The Word combines traditional library resources with a wide range of digital interactive zones for learning and exploration, celebrating storytelling in all of its forms. This includes a flexible exhibition space, a FabLab with 3D printers and vinyl and laser cutters, a television and radio studio, an OpenZone IT suite, and a number of interactive platforms with views out over the neighbouring River Tyne. Here, digital touch tables describe the history of the river, the shipwrecks and trade consumerism. A live app streams the current position of shipping in the North Sea, providing an enticing glimpse of the trade and industry which feeds the region.
The Word combines traditional library resources with a wide range of digital interactive zones for learning and exploration, celebrating storytelling in all of its forms. This includes a flexible exhibition space, a FabLab with 3D printers and vinyl and laser cutters, a television and radio studio, an OpenZone IT suite, and a number of interactive platforms with views out over the neighbouring River Tyne. Here, digital touch tables describe the history of the river, the shipwrecks and trade consumerism. A live app streams the current position of shipping in the North Sea, providing an enticing glimpse of the trade and industry which feeds the region.
Another of The Word’s digital delights is ‘Storyworld’, a fully immersive 360 degree storytelling room, where children of all ages can let their imaginations run wild. The acoustically separated room with its own surround-sound system and vibrating floor creates a sensory environment upon which five linked projectors can apply seamless images to the walls, to complete the experience.
Combined, these facilities represent a divergence from the traditional notion of a library as a temple for silence, instead proudly celebrating its role as a place to share and learn without limitations. All of the building’s elements are supported by a network of integrated digital technologies including super-fast Wi-Fi, and customisable audio and lighting experiences.
These facilities represent a divergence from the traditional notion of a library as a temple for silence, instead proudly celebrating its role as a place to share and learn without limitations
The flexibility of the spaces within The Word has allowed South Tyneside Council to create a varied calendar of exhibitions, workshops and events with national appeal, securing the long term viability of the building and maximising its value to the local community. The digital versatility of The Word allows for video links into other regional cultural institutions, expanding the venue’s content potential even further.
The Word is a place for people, combining architecture and technology to create a community focused library which fulfils the needs of a digital society.
