bibliotheken 2040 - the treehouse project

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Project type: group project with client
Role: research, concept development, user testing



For libraries to remain a meaningful commodity to the community, its role has to change. The Dutch Public Library Association has acknowledged this and launched the Library 2040 project in response. A large number of people and institutions with different backgrounds gave their point of view on the future library, these are documented in the book “Bibliotheken 2040: De toekomst in uitvoering”.

In the context of Library 2040, the Treehouse Project is the latest installment in a series of cooperations between the Dutch Public Library Association and the Utrecht School of the Arts. The Treehouse Project team, an interdisciplinary team consisting of both Master and PSAU students, was asked by the Dutch Public Library Association to develop a concept for the children’s section in the library of the future, in which sharing and imagination should play a big role.

We envision the children’s section of the future libraries to be an inspiring place which stimulates children to learn, experience, create and share; factors which all contribute to a child’s personal development. By using the Theory of Multiple Intelligences as a base, children can do this in the way that suits them best. When the library also acts as a guide to using new media, all children have the chance to learn the skills they need in order to fully function in today’s society. Furthermore, the children’s section of the library of the future is
influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach to education in that it gives children the choice,what, when and how they want to learn, experience, create and/or share.

Below is an example of the overall concept and an inspiration area.

Treehouse Project - Product Documentation