The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features Heatherwick Studio's designs for its first public library, a plant-covered building in Maryland, US. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

Heatherwick Studio envisions the building, planned for the 1960s community of Columbia near Baltimore, acting not only as a library but also as a community centre and events space.

The library will be topped with a series of interconnected, walkable roofs that will be covered with grass and trees, described by Heatherwick Studio as "planted staircases".

Commenters were split with some concerned that the "upkeep and energy costs of a project like this are bound to be huge", while others more enthusiastically described the studio as being "in the business of manufacturing instant 'icons'."

Other stories in this week's newsletter that fired up the comments section include a car barn for a classic Porsche collector designed by Bindloss Dawes and an opinion piece arguing architecture is a hollowed-out profession.

Dezeen Debate

Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.

You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Agenda is sent every Tuesday containing a selection of the most important news highlights from the week, Dezeen Daily is our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours and Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.