Stadtbibliothek Langenfeld

Modern architecture spiced with historic buildings characterizes the center of Langenfeld. In its midst, you’ll find the city’s library: A building from the 1980s, which is shared with other actors of the local cultural scene. Langenfeld in Germany decided to harness the full potential of this special location through fundamental renovation and redesign. Libraries of this age, such as the Langenfeld City Library, often need a major makeover to meet the demands of the 21st century. In addition to technical modernizations, this primarily means libraries repositioning themselves as social hubs. While the list of technical updates is defined relatively quickly, the question of how to develop a public library into a place where urban society feels at home is a bit more subtle.

The key to the answer lies primarily in the countless conversations that the public library staff has had with its patrons of all ages. Trainer and library consultant Julia Bergmann, who has been involved in several includi projects, was brought on board to lead a comprehensive participation process. Together with the library’s various visitor groups – from young to old(er) – the design thinking expert developed initial prototypes, for example for exclusive learning spaces, a multifunctional event stage and cozy seating areas. The insights and ideas from design thinking flowed into the week-long workshop with our team and were translated into spatial layouts, color, light and material concepts and furnishing designs – fundamental ideas for the redesign of the Langenfeld City Library.

The outcome of this immersive process is an open library space seamlessly integrated with its media collection, establishing connections between smaller specialized rooms. Featuring a modern makerspace, a digitizing station and a standing maxi chess set, as well as a dedicated area for young visitors on the first floor, the library offers a dynamic and diverse environment. Scattered across the building are cozy nooks with armchairs, sofas and cocoons. This encourages reading, play and relaxation. Responding to a call in local newspapers, Langenfeld citizens donated their old lamps, resulting in a stunning chandelier – a visual centerpiece and a symbol of community involvement. This new third place breathes a feel-good ambiance with a touch of imperfection, transforming Langenfeld City Library into a revitalized 80s gem, blending local engagement with diverse programming to serve its 21st-century users effectively.