Originally designed by Williamson Faulkner-Brown & Partners, Jesmond Library is a Grade II listed modernist building where architecture, furniture and landscape were conceived as one integrated experience.

When the library became community-run, many of the original bespoke timber elements had already been lost and replaced over time with temporary shelving and mismatched furniture. During a visit in 2008, architect Harry Faulkner-Brown reflected on the loss of the original shelving, which had been carefully designed as part of the building’s overall character.

Working with the Friends of Jesmond Library, MAZi developed a phased strategy to restore warmth, consistency and civic generosity to the interior while responding to the evolving needs of a volunteer-run community space.

The first phase reimagined the entrance lounge area, relocating reading, newspapers and the coffee point closer to the front of the building. Visible from the street through the library’s generous glazing, the new arrangement creates a welcoming threshold - inviting people in and strengthening the library’s role as a social meeting place.

MAZi designed a family of bespoke oak shelving and furniture pieces inspired by the rhythm, proportions and material qualities of the original interiors. The pieces were developed in collaboration with local furniture maker Nick James, who translated the design into detailed maker’s drawings and crafted the final furniture in oak.

Rather than recreating the past, the project continues the building’s story through careful adaptation - demonstrating how small, thoughtful interventions can support the future life of valued civic spaces.