1990 – Denver Public Library, Colorado

The Central Library, designed by architect Michael Graves, receives more than one million visitors per year. The original library opened in 1956, and the new addition opened in 1995 as part of downtown Denver’s renaissance. It is sited next to Ponti’s Art Gallery and Libeskind’s later gallery extension. Although out of fashion stylistically, the Library is impressive in its scale and colourful volumes. In many ways more impressive than Libeskind’s gallery, the building is hugely popular with its users and the materials have worn well.