Archello Awards · Winners Announced
Archello Awards 2024 · Winners Announced
Archello Awards 2024
Winners Announced
Manuel Altolaguirre Library
Héctor Santos-Diez | BISimages

Manuel Altolaguirre Library

castroferro arquitectos as Architects

Facing a plot in one of those common places for many of us, a 60´s developmentalism neighborhood where, as Camus said "it´s necessary to look up to the sky to know what season it is, because there are no pigeons, trees or gardens we all indicate" our work focuses on reverse this situation.


A plot surrounded by ten-story building, others three and some rural remains poorly digested by the city, where the relationship between built space and free space is clearly insufficient, so that all our efforts are in line to release as much as possible for the public space, in tune with the idea that we are here to share.


This way, we liberate half of the plot and turn it into public green space for the neighborhood, giving a tree beside you can read or study but also a small garden for enjoyment of residents without they're using the library, so becoming users of the building, both those who are inside and those citizens who walk or lie on the outside.


The library, all oriented north, obtaining the best light guidance for its homogeneity has at the lowest level, in continuity with grass and trees, the entrance area and reception, which accompanies the areas dedicated to a more relaxed as the archive, and the area of loan and consulting books reading. Dunks inside, with lighting and ventilation to the street Lucientes, is the administrative area. The children's room is located in the most protected area of the library and goes to a small playground for children more appropriate proportions.


On the upper floor, a height of four meters, the areas most dedicated to reading and study are located. This plant is broken into three zones, so that each provides a different environment to the user, from the general reading room, to a room darker and intimate study or area of audiovisual biggest buzz, all fragmented and joined by connectors, offering the possibility also of little nooks to hide to read a book or in the viewpoints located around the courtyard or on sofas in the connectors, looking at the trees.


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