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Have you ever thought about how different public spaces make you feel? Or what reactions you have when walking past majestic columns to enter a building? Find out more about the Portico Library’s architecture and share your feelings and ideas about space, place and form.

The Portico Library is one of the oldest buildings in Manchester. Some people say it’s like a refuge or a haven, safe from the commotion of the city. Some say that its columns and grand bookcases can feel severe and intimidating, recalling old-fashioned ideas about who belongs where.

Architecture is a language, and architectural choices are a form of communication.

The current exhibition at The Portico Library, 'Brick by Brick: Architectures of potential', aims to build conversations about the future of the Library, encouraging a sense of co-ownership of its physical space as well as its collection.

Following the same approach, art historian Sara Riccardi will lead an evening centred around the theme of the 'portico' an architectural term for a type of entrance. The example of the column, which can simultaneously act as a barrier, a shelter, a signpost, and a liminal space, will let us reflect on the multiple meanings it can have.  This event will explore the legacy of past architectural conventions on modern spaces, and explore our preferences, and what can make spaces more accessible and inclusive today. Join us to discuss the many ways in which architectural features speak to their users - and how we can speak back.