This library and media centre – a new public building – aims to entice the city’s inhabitants and invites them to enjoy culture and education in the multiple ways possible in a contemporary library. We have proposed a simple transparent building with a large open area at its heart. Specific spaces are not separated from each other but instead are defined by nuanced treatments of various different atmospheres.
TRANSPARENCY
We have designed the glass façades and the interior layout as an interplay of transparencies. Every space maintains both a constant visual connection with the city landscape and a sustained close interaction with the interior of the building.
FLOODPLAIN
The site may be submerged by floodwater. We therefore raised the library on stilts. This choice protects the building and minimises its on-site environmental impact. The library looks as if it is floating on the landscape. The varying topography of the building blends smoothly into the environment.
THE CEILING AS A MERGING POINT
The ceiling is the main reference point and encapsulates the soul of the project. Here, we were inspired by ornamental façades and wall paintings such as Chagall’s work at the Paris Opera– we treated this grand surface as an artwork that highlights local history. The use of stretched canvas is ideal for artwork of such a large scale.
This brightly colored surface transgresses the internal boundaries and extends outside; it stretches out at various angles in order to interact with different solar orientations. The transparency of the external façades creates the impression of a hovering roof element. At night, it lights up in the sky like a firefly.
