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New photos of Mecanoo's refurbished Mies-designed Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in D.C.

2021-11-19T17:47:00-05:00

Mecanoo has shared updated imagery of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. the firm revamped together with OTJ Architects.

Photographers Robert Benson and Trent Bell have provided new photos detailing the modernization of the landmark building that was completed in 1972 as Mies van der Rohe’s only library design and final act as an architect.

Following a three-year transformation, the library opened to the public on September 25th but has gone largely undocumented thanks to restrictions over the coronavirus, which shut out much of the renovated areas from public view since its official reopening in October 2020.

Scroll down to have a look at a selection of the latest photos and learn more about the project here.

Image © Trent Bell

Image © Robert Benson

Image © Trent Bell

Image © Robert Benson

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Documentary looks at the Mecanoo-led modernization of the Mies-designed Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C.

2020-10-26T12:50:00-04:00

Originally opened in 1972, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library was Mies van der Rohe's only library and his last building. The landmark was closed in 2017 to commence modernizations which have been completed this year, recently reopening the building last month.

The three-year design and modernization project was led by Mecanoo and OTJ Architects. A full-length documentary has been released investigated the design process and transformation of the library. Check it out below:

Redesign of DC's main Mies library tip-toes around the good and the bad

2015-04-07T15:52:00-04:00

It’s hard to find a landmark building in Washington more polarizing than the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Designed by legendary German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the city’s central library was never much loved by Washingtonians. If anything, its popularity has gone downhill since its 1972 opening. [...] But now, as a four-year process wends its way toward a final design, it’s clear Washingtonians shouldn’t expect a major overhaul of Mies’s flawed design.

According to the Washingtonian, Mecanoo (the firm leading the redesign) will release updates to their redesign (along with local partner Martinez & Johnson) later this month. But only after many of the proposed redesign elements have already been nixed: a "3-story rooftop addition"; replacing the brick stairway enclosure with glass; turning windowless rooms into wide, open spaces. But, it's likely that the redesign will include:

a one-story addition with bordering "garden-like public space"
a ground-floor cafe
a lobby that opens up into "an amphitheater-like performance space"

Redesigning the Mies building is problematic for many reasons, especially considering Modernism's fraught reputation in the US, and the shifting status of public libraries. From Washingtonian:

"Modernism’s status as preservation-worthy is still relatively tenuous. The United States nominated its first examples of Modernist architecture to the UNESCO World Heritage List only earlier this year, all of them relative...

Editor's Picks #356

2014-02-25T05:28:00-05:00

Amelia interviewed Jason Pomeroy an architect, academic and urban planner based in Singapore, about his new travel show City Time Traveller.

His travels through Asia have convinced him "What transcends culture though is an indigenous civilisation’s understanding of basic environmental and social needs, embodied in many of these historical buildings. Shelter from the elements, natural light, natural ventilation, locally sourced materials and a spatial ‘encoding’ as to who can come in and occupy a particular space, and who must stay outside, can be found in all".

Plus, the seventh edition of Screen/Print featured Bauhaus-University Weimar, Horizonte 's Ausgabe 08. Specifically an essay authored by Tyler Survant’s titled 'Biological Borderlands: Ant Farm’s Zoopolitics'.

News

The NYT published a trend-piece of sorts, about the new permanent, intern underclass.

In response Miles Jaffe argued the "Sad thing about this article is they're pushing the idea that this an acceptable lifestyle choic...

Mecanoo and Martinez + Johnson chosen to redesign MLK Library in D.C.

2014-02-18T15:38:00-05:00

Alas! The winning team to renovate the historic Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library has been selected. That team would be Mecanoo and Martinez + Johnson, who won over notable finalists Patkau + Ayers Saint Gross and STUDIOS + Freelon. Upon contract approval, Mecanoo and Martinez + Johnson will begin working with library staff and consultants to finalize the new library's design scheme.

Find out more on Bustler.

Top three teams prep for final design presentation of MLK Library renovation

2014-02-10T20:19:00-05:00

The historic Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. is one step closer to finding the architectural team for its major renovation project -- and competition is stiff [...] After submitting their proposals, the top three teams will have one final presentation to persuade the review panel and the public this Saturday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. in the MLK Library's Great Hall.

Team 1: Mecanoo + Martinez and Johnson

Team 2: Patkau + Ayers Saint Gross

Team 3: STUDIOS + Freelon

Get more details about each project on Bustler.

Shortlist for D.C.‘s MLK Library renovation narrowed down to 3 teams

2013-12-30T15:41:00-05:00

Three finalist teams have advanced into the last round of the search for an architect to renovate — or possibly redesign — Washington D.C.'s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Back in October, the competition had already narrowed down the list of applicants to 10 teams with the invitation to create technical proposals on how they would approach renovating the Mies van der Rohe-designed library.

The three finalists are:

Patkau Architects / Ayers Saint Gross with Krueck + Sexton
Martinez + Johnson Architects / Mecanoo Architects
STUDIOS Architecture / The Freelon Group

Previously: Ten firms chosen for second stage of MLK Jr. Memorial Library renovation search

Ten firms chosen for second stage of MLK Jr. Memorial Library renovation search

2013-11-05T14:09:00-05:00

The search to find the architect team to help redesign the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library continues as the competition narrowed down from 26 firms to 10 last month. These 10 teams were invited to create technical proposals on how they would approach renovating the Mies van der Rohe-designed library in Washington D.C. Firms are not expected to submit design concepts in this round. Proposals will be judged by a team of library, urban planning, architecture and preservation experts.

UPDATE: Shortlist for D.C.‘s MLK Library renovation narrowed down to 3 teams

The firms are:

Cunningham Quill Architects/1100 Architects
Ennead Architects/Marshall Moya Architects
Leo A. Daly/Richard Bauer
Martinez and Johnson Architects/Mecanoo Architects
OMA/Quinn Evans Architects
Patkau Architects/Ayers Saint Gross
REX/Davis Carter Scott Architects
Shalom Baranes/Davis Brody Bond
Skidmore Owings & Merrill
Studios Architecture/The Freelon Group

Board Considers Renovation of Mies's Martin Luther King Library

2012-09-20T16:40:00-04:00

The building, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, is a historical landmark but has been expensive and troublesome to maintain. The library’s management, led by D.C. Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper, has been considering whether it can be renovated or expanded in some way, or if the library needs to find a new home for the central library.