Swiss Cottage Library
SWISS COTTAGE LIBRARY, AVENUE ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1272259
- Date first listed:
- 02-Dec-1997
- List Entry Name:
- Swiss Cottage Library
- Statutory Address:
- SWISS COTTAGE LIBRARY, AVENUE ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-10-31
- Reference:
- IOE01/14853/14
- Rights:
- © Mr Steve Bower. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1272259
- Date first listed:
- 02-Dec-1997
- List Entry Name:
- Swiss Cottage Library
- Statutory Address 1:
- SWISS COTTAGE LIBRARY, AVENUE ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- SWISS COTTAGE LIBRARY, AVENUE ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Camden (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 26777 84180
Details
CAMDEN
TQ2684SE AVENUE ROAD
798-1/61/1895 (East side)
02/12/97 Swiss Cottage Library
II
Public library. 1963-4, for the Borough of Hampstead by Sir
Basil Spence, Bonnington and Collins. Reinforced concrete
frame on 10' grid clad in pre-cast black basalt concrete
spandrel panels between projecting and finely-finished
concrete fins with Portland stone aggregate, all set over
smooth raised basement and ground floor of Portland stone and
concrete - painted. Asphalt on concrete roof slab. The
cigar-shaped plan is a complex one, the entrance at
ground-floor level on the highest, northern end of the site,
the ground floor and basements otherwise housing offices,
services and bookstacks, whilst stairs lead to a double-height
central foyer at first-floor level. Children's library to side
of this; to north and south respectively lending and reference
libraries on two levels each with two pairs of spiral stairs
to balcony. Music library over children's library on second
floor, reached through reference library which also includes
work rooms for private study and offices.
The projecting fins of Portland stone aggregate at 2'6"
intervals are the dominant feature of the building, contrasted
with the darker panels in between. Aluminium windows.
INTERIOR: aluminium also used extensively internally in the
vertical divides to the glazed screens preferred to solid
walls through most of the public interiors. This verticality
is repeated in the slender steel balustrades to the reference
and lending libraries' balcony fronts and internal stairs.
White perforated aluminium ceilings with recessed fluorescent
light fittings a necessary complement to the extensive use of
diffused, borrowed light through the building; terrazzo
floors. Original bookcases and fixed desks, the latter notably
in reference area; some original signage survives on ground
and first floors.
Swiss Cottage Library and the adjacent baths were all that
were built of an intended new civic centre for Hampstead, the
scheme abandoned because of local authority reorganisation in
1965. It is one of Spence's most accomplished civic buildings,
and amongst the most ambitious architectural designs for a
library found anywhere.
(Architects Journal: 29 January 1959; Architects Journal: 25
November 1964; Architect and Building News: 11 November 1964;
Opening Brochure of the Queen's Visit: November 1964).
Listing NGR: TQ2677784180
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 476629
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Architect and Building News in 11th November, (1964)
Architects Journal in 25 November, (1964)
Architects Journal in 29 January, (1959)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 19-Jun-2026 at 05:44:57.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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