Libraries are a city’s cultural name card. In order to allow Macao’s sustainable cultural development, promote knowledge to the general public and consolidate cultural pillars, the MSAR Government considers the construction of the New Central Library an important cultural task, which will become a cultural landmark of the city after its conclusion.
Fully preserve the Old Court Building’s patent cultural value
According to the views of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), central libraries of small and medium-sized cities should be located in the city centre, giving diversity to users, thereby highlighting the unique advantages of a central library. Therefore, the Old Court Building and the former headquarters of the Judiciary Police, located in the city centre, meet the requirements of the above-mentioned location. In addition, these buildings are located in the eastern entrance to the World Heritage Historic Centre of Macao and have a deep and rich cultural and historical meaning.
The street-facing side of the Old Court Building and the east wing of the former headquarters of the Judiciary Police feature an eclectic style. The Old Court Building is classified as a building of architectural interest and is a building of important cultural significance. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will strictly abide to the provisions of the “Cultural Heritage Protection Law” regarding the protection of this heritage building and, on this basis, draft a construction project for the New Central Library . Such project includes the overall preservation of the Old Court Building, which will not be demolished; the preservation will include the façade and roof, the inner structure, the floors as well as characteristic spaces and elements, among others. With regards to the former headquarters of the Judiciary Police, one section will be expanded; while the façade in eclectic style located in the east wing and the inner spaces with distinguishing features will be preserved.
By selecting the best architectural project, the New Central Library, after its completion in the future, will be an excellent example of a building which harmoniously combines historical and modern architectural features.
Create a cultural space of sustainable development
Based on the preservation of the features of the two above mentioned sites, it is estimated that the New Central Library will have, taking into account the new floors and deposits to be built, 11 stories divided into three major spaces, namely the Library’s collection spaces, public spaces and technological support spaces, thereby offering a comprehensive reading service space.
One of the priorities of the project is the Library’s users flow management. Readers from different age groups, occupations and communities, and each group uses the library according to the type of services they require and to their schedules. The New Central Library will meet the needs of readers of different social levels in order to achieve cultural equality. Additionally, a rational plan for the flow of people will be designed in order to avoid crowding. Taking also into account that the current use of the Old Court Building as an exhibition and performance venue does not lead to an agglomeration of visiting tourists, it is not estimated that the New Central Library will cause an overload of people after it comes into operation.
Introduce monitoring mechanisms for rational use of public funds
Considering Macao’s current social development and economic transformation, the New Central Library is particularly important to the city’s cultural development. The initially expected budget of 900 million is based on the average cost of large-scale public construction projects, taking into account the annual inflation rate. In the future, following the conclusion of the New Central Library’s in-depth design, a more precise budget will be announced to the public. Likewise and as required, the Commission Against Corruption and the Commission of Audit, among other departments, will be invited to supervise the execution and progress of the project as well as to ensure an adequate use of public funds.