The Berkeley library, designed in 1967 by architectural collective ABK, was the winning entry for an international competition which aimed to represent the college in the 20th century. Standing the test of time, the smooth white reinforced concrete-finish exterior communicates clarity through simplicity. In accordance with the “truth to materials” dictum of the modernist architectural aesthetic, timber fibres are exposed and speckled across the façade.

The floor to ceiling curved bay windows deliver the library counter with a flood of natural light and are one of the most striking features of the façade that neatly frames Fellows Square, echoing Streamline Moderne and the International Style. Ringing true with the functionalist “form follows function” mantra, the interior is centred around an open plan reading space, The Morrison Room, which features an impressive two-storey high, glass panelled ceiling.

Photo by Matthew Mulligan.