Architects and Designers: Níall McLaughlin Architects
Location: Cambridge, UK
Year: 2021
Concept: Cross-laminated timber structure, oak joinery
Photos by Nick Kane
The New Library at Magdalene College by Níall McLaughlin Architects explores how timber can be used to create a space that is both highly functional and deeply connected to the experience of reading and learning. Designed as an addition to the historic college, the building combines traditional brick volumes externally with a carefully crafted timber interior, where the structure, furniture, and bookcases become part of one continuous system.
The interior is formed by a cross-laminated timber structure with hardwood shelves, desks, and details integrated throughout the spaces. Rather than treating timber as only a structural material, the project uses it to shape the character of the library, with columns, roof elements, windows, and joinery working together to create a warm and carefully controlled environment for study.
One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the way natural light is brought into the deep plan of the building. Roof lights and timber elements work together to filter daylight, creating changing patterns across the reading rooms while reducing glare. The result is a library where the construction, material, and atmosphere are closely connected, showing how timber can contribute to spaces designed to be used and appreciated for generations.
See more on the [Níall McLaughlin Architects] website: The New Library, Magdalene College