Sunken Library
Client: Madrid
Municipality
Year: 2020
Location: Madrid, ES
Program: Library
Size: 1.500 m2
Type: Competition
Team:
Jorik Bais, Alexandra Heijink
In an effort to respectfully integrate with the historic Plaza de la Villa, this library proposal places the majority of the building underground. The structure appears almost entirely windowless, with its pitched roof sitting on the plaza like a sculptural object.
Inside, the space is organized around a centrally placed spiral staircase that leads directly down into the library. The main library area is divided into two distinct zones: one dedicated to cataloging books, with shelves cladding the structural elements that support the roof cantilever, and a reading area that faces a sunken garden, allowing natural daylight to filter in and providing a tranquil backdrop for readers.
Special books are housed in a treasury, a unique space with an unconventional entrance located in the corner of the room, emphasizing the distinctiveness of its contents.