British Library Piazza

The library, designed by Collin St. John Wilson, was set back from Euston Road to create an enclosed courtyard between the turmoil of traffic on the main road and the doors to the building. There is a small amphitheatre for open-air performances a a bronze statue of Newton and Antony Gormley's Planets sculpture. The courtyard benefits from being south-facing, though the glare can be excessive. But the disadvantage of being on the south of the building is excessive road noise. Continuation of the gateway as a building would have ameliorated this problem. The design of the courtyard is OK but unremarkable. It should have been treated as a separate design commission, and detailed as a library garden with plants to admire and books to read.