Subdivision Policy 16 Upgrading and adaptation works - National Library of Australia Conservation Management Plan - Policy 16 Upgrading and adaptation works | Zoe
The Library will replace or upgrade fabric and services, or undertake adaptation works as required by their condition or changed standards. Such works will not compromise significance unless there is no alternative, in which case every effort will be made to minimise the impact on significance.
Commentary: Adaptation in this plan involves no, or minimal impact on significance.
Policy 17 Changes to the interior spaces of cultural significance
Changes to significant interior spaces listed in Policy 11 shall be limited to those that are consistent with their conservation and do not diminish the values of the spaces. The values of these spaces commonly rely on the survival of attributes such as distinctive wall, floor or ceiling treatments, the retention of original room volumes, the retention of original or compatible uses, and often the retention of original fittings and furniture. Changes that reconstruct previously altered attributes, or make attributes more accessible to viewing and appreciation, should be encouraged.
Commentary: Significant spaces where comments are worthwhile are as follows:
• Nan Kivell Room (L2:24): The change in the use of the room (from manuscript reading) has generally respected its significant design, although the reading room furniture configuration has been lost.
The foyer of the Nan Kivell Room should also be treated as a highly significant space, and if possible the display cabinets re-opened. It is noted that at present wall displays are mounted to reflect the original cabinet openings.
• Entry foyer, twin stair cases and mezzanine (GR:55, L1:78): The maintenance of the visual link through spaces GR:01 and GR:54 (the present bookshop and café) from the foyer to the Leonard French windows is an important aspect of the significance of the foyer. The foyer, with the two staircases and the mezzanine level above creates the original grand entry to the building, and retention of the open nature of this space is important. Any changes need to be sympathetic to these values.
The foyer is designed to be a place of human activity and the encouragement of use by the location of the bookshop and café are not incompatible with the values of the space. The limited use of the foyer area by café patrons has not had an adverse affect, and continued limited use for that purpose by the provision of tables in the northern half would not be incompatible with the heritage significance of the space. However, fixed fittings or partitioning should not be allowed to encroach beyond the line of the mezzanine floor above GR:54 (the present glass wall).
The opening of the Special Collections Reading Room has restored the public function of the marble stairs, with people using them to travel between the Ground Floor and First Floor.
• Executive Area (L1:69-77), Ferguson Room (L1:02) and upper foyer area (L1:04): While refurbished in 1999, these spaces have a close relationship with the original entry foyer space. Future changes to re-introduce open public use throughout these areas overlooking the foyer is compatible with the heritage significance of the foyer area, and should be considered in future space re-allocation planning. It is noted the Ferguson Room is a public space accessible by arrangement.
• Former viewing rooms and projection room (L3:30, L3:31, L3:34): These spaces are distinctively designed to fulfil their original function however, their use as viewing rooms is now redundant. Adaptation to a new use is desirable, and the successful refurbishment of one room for meeting use has been achieved, but continued use of other spaces for storage purposes is preferable to their demolition. Continued storage or future adaptation to a new use should be controlled to avoid gradual damage and deterioration of the original finishes and fittings in the spaces.
Policy 18 Security and access
Should increased security checking of the public accessing the building be required, any physical apparatus or security structure shall not be located in the foyer area (GR:55, GR:54, GR:01). Increased security infrastructure should be located further into the building.
Policy 19 Extensions or new buildings
Additions to the exterior of the National Library of Australia shall be limited to sympathetic extensions of the podium, or shall be separate buildings of sympathetic design and location.
Commentary: The significance of the existing building suggests that extensions would have a high probability of diminishing the cultural significance of the original. Extension of the podium would have little or no adverse impact if well designed and located, as the podium was designed to be larger than it is at present.
New buildings of a sympathetic design (not necessarily mimicking the existing) and appropriately located could reflect the original design intent of having flanking wings for the Library. However, inappropriately located and designed new buildings in the vicinity of the Library could have a major adverse impact on its significance. This would be especially the case if buildings interrupted views to the Library from the lake, and vice versa.
The potential locations for new buildings are outside the area controlled by the National Library of Australia. The Library’s interest is in retaining its sympathetic setting, which is under the control of the NCA. See Strategy 4.2 and 5.5.
Use of the Place
Policy 20 Uses of the Library
The uses of the National Library of Australia shall be compatible with the significance of the place. The primary current and future uses of the Library integral to the conservation of its significance are as the home of the National Library of Australia, focussing on the provision of reader access and services, the storage and protection of the Library collection, the provision nationally of a range of bibliographic and other Library functions, and the provision of general visitor interpretation of the Library and related exhibition material.
Commentary: The Library’s building is actively used for the National Library of Australia’s core function, the provision of Library services.
Implementation Strategies
20.1 The National Library of Australia will ensure that no new uses are introduced to the Library building that do not comply with Policies 20 or 21.
20.2 The National Library of Australia will seek better compatible uses for the viewing room (L3:30).
Commentary: This viewing room is currently used for storage. The adjacent other viewing room, the IT Heritage Cinema (L3:34), has been successfully refurbished and is now used as a meeting room.
Policy 21 Supporting or secondary uses
Supporting or secondary uses, such as food outlets, are acceptable within the Library, in support of the primary uses. Future extension of supporting uses to include provision of accommodation or services to organizations with related functions would not necessarily be incompatible uses. Supporting uses will generally be small in scale and impact, and will respect the cultural significance of the Library. All supporting or secondary uses will be compatible with the significance of the place.
Implementation Strategies
21.1 The National Library of Australia will ensure that lease arrangements with any supporting or secondary use limit allowable changes to the place in a way compatible with heritage values.
Setting
Policy 22 Setting
The National Library of Australia will encourage the conservation of an appropriate setting for the building, including its significant relationship with the forecourt, Moore sculpture and surrounding landscape, aspects of which were part of the overall original design for the Library.
Commentary: The setting of the National Library of Australia is managed by the National Capital Authority and this policy may best be advanced through Strategy 4.2.
Interpretation
Policy 23 Interpretation of the significance of the Library
The National Library of Australia shall prepare and disseminate interpretative information in relation to the cultural heritage significance of the Library, through publications, its website, on-site interpretation, guided tours and any other appropriate means.
Implementation Strategies
23.1 The National Library of Australia will continue to recognise as part of its public programs activities, a program that presents and interprets to visitors the heritage values of the building.
Commentary: This program currently incorporates:
presentation of information about the heritage values of the place in guided walking tours of the building; and
printed materials such as fact sheets and publications on heritage aspects of the place (such as the booklet A Different View, on the building’s art).
The content of this information is intended to be developed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. Future options may also include:
sensitively located and designed interpretation panels for the whole place or key heritage components of the place; and
making the updated conservation management plan available on the National Library of Australia website.
Unforseen Discoveries
Policy 24 Unforeseen discoveries or disturbance of heritage components
If the unforeseen discovery of new evidence or the unforeseen disturbance of heritage fabric requires major management or conservation decisions not envisaged by this conservation management plan, the plan shall be reviewed and revised (see Policy 8).
If management action is required before the management plan can be revised, a heritage impact statement shall be prepared, that assesses the likely impact of the proposed management action on the existing assessed significance of the Library, and on any new significance revealed by the discovery.
If action is required before a heritage action statement can be developed, the Library shall seek relevant expert heritage advice before taking emergency action. Emergency management actions must not diminish the significance of the place unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative.
Such actions may be referrable matters under the EPBC Act.
Commentary: Unforeseen discoveries may be related to location of new documentary or physical evidence about the place or specific heritage values that are not known at the time of this plan, and that might impact on the management and conservation of the place. Discovery of new heritage values or the discovery of evidence casting doubt on existing assessed significance would be examples.
Discovery of potential threats to heritage values may also not be adequately canvassed in the existing policies. Potential threats might include the need to upgrade services or other operational infrastructure to meet current standards, the discovery of hazardous substances that require removal, or the physical deterioration of fabric.
Unforeseen disturbance might be related to accidental damage to fabric, isolated structural failure, or disastrous events such as fire or flood.
Keeping Records
Policy 25 Records of intervention and maintenance
The National Library of Australia shall maintain records of any substantial intervention or change to the place, including records about maintenance.
Commentary: Relevant actions might include maintenance programs, refurbishment projects, conservation actions (preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adaptation), interpretation, changes of use, and any other works that might affect a heritage component of the place.
Implementation strategies
25.1 The National Library of Australia will retain records relating to actions taken in accordance with Policy 7 – Decision making process for works or actions.
25.2 The National Library of Australia will retain copies of all maintenance plans prepared for the place, including superseded plans, and records about monitoring. (Refer to Policies 14 and 15)
25.3 A summary of substantial interventions, changes and maintenance will be included in the Library’s heritage register entry for the place, including a reference to where further details may be found.