How Victoria’s State Library revival highlights links to classical Greek architecture and ideals

The iconic building in the heart of Melbourne is famous for being Australia’s first public library but the ‘jewel’ in the Library’s collection of unique heritage spaces drew on ancient Greece in both structure and inspiration.

At SLV's Queen's Hall, Arthur Andronas (second from left) with collaborators and stakeholders who led the redevelopment of the State Library of Victoria. Source: Arthur Andronas/Supplied

Highlights

• The recently completed reconstruction project of the State Library of Victoria featured in three award categories of the state’s 2020 Architecture Awards.
• The lead architect of the firm coordinating the reimagined design, explains how the redevelopment brought forward ‘hidden’ heritage pieces inspired by ancient Greece.
• A prominent part of the works was the opening up of 40 per cent more public access space.

Architect Arthur Andronas is a key member of the team credited for the State Library of Victoria’s ‘new face’.

His firm, Andronas Conservation Architecture, guided the design team comprised by architects of Architectus (also Melbourne-based) and Schmidt Hammer Lassen from Denmark, in a five years’ long redevelopment project.

Recognition for their work has been no less significant of its duration, with the collaborating firms scoring three of this year’s Victorian Architecture Awards.

“No doubt, it is a great honour but it came as a big surprise to receive three awards,” Mr Andronas admits.

“Our hopes were high for the Melbourne Prize, but having been also bestowed with the Heritage-Conservation Architecture and Public Architecture awards makes us feel truly honoured,” he tells SBS Greek.

A ‘temple’ dedicated to knowledge

The area of the library that underwent major restoration works is the Ian Potter’s Queen Hall.

Closed for almost 20 years, the impressive hall reopened its doors to the public just before the pandemic hit, in December 2019, following the conclusion of the reconstruction project.

Workers at the State Library of Victoria during redevelopment works. Source: Arthur Andronas/Supplied

Hailed as “the jewel in the Library's stellar collection of unique heritage spaces”, it hosts the library’s original reading room, built in 1856 – just two years after the establishment of Australia’s first public library.

Mr Andronas explains why this was particularly forward-thinking at the time.

“The idea behind it is of great importance, as back then public libraries hadn’t even started to emerge in England.

“The aim was to provide free access to the public […] not only those who could afford to pay a fee. So, be it poor or rich, people could visit the library to first learn how to read but also being allowed to read whatever they wanted,” the architect says stressing that this was spearheaded by advocates dreaming of “a better society.”

Architect Arthur Andronas at the State Library of Victoria. Source: Arthur Andronas/Supplied

Put it simply, the concept was “based on the democracy ideal.”

“Considering that ancient Greece is deemed the birthplace of democracy, it follows that the original design was classical Greek.”

Mr Andronas points to the columns found both in the interior and the façade of the library, as examples of the classical architecture style.

“It’s almost like a temple,” he says, nodding to the term ‘temple dedicated to knowledge’.  

With the team behind the original design, falsely assuming that the Parthenon – a quintessential sample of classical Greek architecture – lacked coloured paint, they opted for white walls in the Queen’s Hall.

Soon after, the busting of the myth of whiteness led to vivid colours introduced in decorative elements, including the iconic ornamental motifs of acanthus and meanders.

Multiple interventions would follow over the years, with the original base lost underneath layers, Mr Andronas explains.

For these reasons, uncovering the colourful patterns and the inspired from ancient Greece past underpinning them, guided the recent renovation works of the hall, in a bid to reveal rather than replicate history.

“We removed around six to seven layers, before finding the prototype,” he says describing the colour scheme redesigned in the mid 19^th century by Edward LaTrobe Bateman.

Examples of original design features restored at Queen's Hall. Source: SBS Greek/Panos Apostolou

Reimagined structure to service the people

Beyond aesthetics, the redevelopment has been notable in its contribution to building’s users.

“Every year, the library welcomes around 1.800.000 visitors,” Mr Andronas says, referring to pre-pandemic traffic estimates.

Thanks to the reconstruction project, when coronavirus restrictions ease allowing people to visit again, they will find themselves treated to an extra 40 per cent of space created.

“Public access space is crucial and offering it in such abundance we believe drove the juries’ decision for the two recognitions awarded to the project,” Mr Andronas says referring to the heritage and public architecture awards.

Indeed, the Victorian Architecture Awards chair of juries, Ingrid Bakker, said in a statement:

“Projects such as the State Library offer a major benefit to Melburnians and the way it has been brought back to life is a real gift to the city[…] This landmark is something that can be enjoyed for generations to come and is an exemplar of the enhancement of existing buildings.”

Arthur Andronas (R) with colleagues inside the State Library of Victoria during restoration works. Source: Arthur Andronas/Supplied

It is estimated that at least 400,000 work hours were required for the project’s completion, spanned across five years.

“Architects, engineers, developers and workers were working on top of each other to finish. I would even say we did the job fairly quickly,” Mr Andronas says.

Projects recognised in the Victorian Architecture Awards, including the State Library, will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program, with the shortlist expected to be announced in the coming months.