Client: Inner West Council

Haberfield Library

Haberfield Library

Year
2021

Scope
Wayfinding strategy
Signage design
Documentation
Marketing collateral
Typeface design

Architect
Lahznimmo

Blending heritage and the contemporary – The renewal of a heritage library and civic centre in Sydney’s Haberfield.

Completed in May 2021, the new Centre and Library delivers a contemporary, accessible library space and flexible community meeting rooms. Haberfield Centre and Library provides light, bright spaces for the community to work, study and meet. 

Citizen were inspired by the heritage of the building and sought to blend and contrast these with contemporary elements. Heritage window signwriting inspired the design of a unique typeface with playful gold foil drop shadows. The beautifully restored plaster decorations with their romantic motifs are contrasted by minimalist light boxes. 

The custom typeface was used vertically on the façade of the building bridging the connection between the old and the new. The contemporary reinterpretation of gold foil and drop shadows was extended into the signage scheme and marketing communications and can be seen on interpretive signage throughout the building and on promotional collateral for the Library.