A Legacy of Love

Anele Tembe Library_DGC-41

Inside Hesse Kleinloog Studio’s Library that Facilitates Female and Future-Forward Empowerment

When the faculty at Durban Girls’ College identified their library as a space in need of change, they commissioned Hesse Kleinloog Studio to interrogate what a school library should stand for in the 21st century. The design team’s mission was clear: to create a library that would encourage questions, inspire curiosity, and ignite the imaginations of the students. Following classical aesthetic lines, they embedded a sense of wonder within the very fabric of the new Anele Tembe Library, crafting a space that beckons discovery.

The original Durban Girls’ College senior library was established in the old school hall, preserving the iconic wooden roof trusses and the historic 15th-century ‘Peppercorn’ stained glass window. However, as the school recognised, traditional libraries have evolved, with a new motto guiding contemporary design: Libraries should be about more than books. The Anele Tembe Library was envisioned as a sanctuary, a museum, and a workshop — a space curated for modern-day exploration and learning.

Anele Tembe Library DGC 110
Anele Tembe Library DGC 102

In an act of honour
In 2021, the school community mourned the passing of past student Anele Tembe. The concept of honouring Anele’s memory through the library’s transformation became a poignant act of legacy. Hesse Kleinloog Studio, co-founded by Durban Girls’ College alumna Andrea Kleinloog, approached the project with a clear goal in mind: to create a more innovative and functional space that would encourage the girls to pause, look around, disconnect, and ultimately discover. The design team’s personal connection to the school, combined with their expertise, made them the perfect project custodians.

Library of the future
The design of the Anele Tembe Library is a captivating synthesis of old and new. The magnificent wooden vaulted ceiling resembles the hull of a majestic ship, not unlike the Galleon in the Durban Girls’ College school badge, while the beautiful sash windows filter in the sunlight, offering stunning views over Durban.

Anele Tembe Library DGC 69
Anele Tembe Library DGC 40

The carefully designed interior spaces are sensory and encourage perspective and investigation. The colour palette is muted and restful, with a variety of learning environments, from acoustic booths for quiet study to café-style tables and comfortable reading nooks featuring large charcoal beanbags. Suspended paper scrolls by Elonah O’Neil Reid lend a serene ambience, while the revered stained-glass windows continue to cast their warm glow.

As the Anele Tembe Library ushers in a new era of boundless learning, it stands as a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and a touch of whimsy. Looking back on a design of the past, celebrating the love and legacy of a fellow student, designed by the hand of an alumna, the Anele Tembe Library introduces a special type of project to the portfolio of renovations, taking its cue from the students that came before it and laying out a launchpad for generations to come.

This article is an extract from our 2024/25 Coffee Table Edition. Click here to read the full issue.

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