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After much anticipation, last week I finally headed over to Stratford to indulge in ¹û¶³Ó°Ôºâ€™s latest architectural gem, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº East, and my what a feast for the eyes it was! 

A simple seven-minute train from Liverpool Street saw me arrive safely at Westfield. After a brisk walk through the shopping centre, the pedestrianised area outside opened right up to reveal a landscape of abstract constructions. These included the London Aquatics Centre composed by Hadid and Schumacher in 2011, the London College of Fashion Stratford campus crafted by Allies and Morrison, the ArcelorMittal Orbit designed by Anish Kapoor in 2014, and the stunning minimalist ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº East Marshgate building by Stanton Williams, whose doors officially opened to the first student cohorts this academic year.

Entering the space, I felt like a drop in the ocean. I stepped into this gaping area calling out for you to ‘look up’. And there it was, a monumental globe hanging above me. Tracing the soft concrete walls were patterns of escalators, and balconies that overlooked the vast space. There was a real sense of minimalism drawn out from the height and depth of the layout; as I walked about the campus, I felt myself observing both the immense and modest features, from wall signs and stickers on desks, to the grand internal pillars with swathes of glass window floating between.

Up on the second floor I discovered the library. I noticed there were a few reception desks nearby, each one managed by staff. This floor was accessible via the escalator positioned immediately at the campus entrance, or via a lift which was situated parallel to this. The library was like a maquette of the larger building, with only essential features exhibited, simply framing the activity of the space. Students occupied the various study spaces, some in groups, and many at individual desks that looked outwards to London’s concrete jungle.

The ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº East Library was mainly composed of hot desks where students could pitch up to campus and curate their own space for the day. There were also a number of single desks in the vicinity too where individuals could create a more personal and less disruptive study space. I took some time out to work in the silent study room for a little while, noticing that all desks had built in lamps and plugs; but it was the natural lighting and sweeping windows that generated a calm and refreshing atmosphere, making the study experience so remarkable. The library is also home to various bookable study rooms and has a number of facilities on offer to everyone in our ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº community – these include lockers, laptop loans, and printing/scanning services.

Quietly wandering around the space, there were notable aesthetic qualities such as the continuation of vertical lines that I had first seen on the exterior of the building, as well as the glaring absence of books. The friendly library staff had explained to me that this library was paperless, which after some shock, I came to appreciate. Our libraries across ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº have access to incredible numbers of databases, collections, and subscriptions to journals, most of which grant us access to their material online. This of course means that we can save on printing, and that we can be ever more mobile, reading articles and papers wherever suits our study needs. A real sign of the times! (I was told that all books are also available via the click and collect service or from other ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº libraries – never fear, book lovers!).  

So, if you haven’t yet visited ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº East, head over to experience this grandiose location. You can expect a beautifully kept library, inspiring views, and a reasonably priced cup of tea in the campus café on the ground floor. Your ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº staff or student card will grant you access to the building. Stratford is easily accessible via train, overground, and tube, but do contact ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº East Library ahead of your visit should you require any support.