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Biblioteca Joan Maragall, Sant Gervasi

BCQ Arquitectura Barcelona

By Brian Gallagher, fotos/photos Ariel Ramirez 28.06.14

The Joan Maragall Library was recently officially opened in the Sant Gervasi neighbourhood of Barcelona, designed by Baena Casamor Arquitectes (BCQ Arquitectura Barcelona) the building has an overall area of 2,396 sq.m. divided over two floor levels and an internal courtyard, the book collection numbers over 38,000 volumes. The city has a fine collection of municipal library buildings some of which we have published in B-Guided (Biblioteca Jaume Fuster, Plaza Lesspes, 20-22 / Biblioteca Sant Antoni, C. Comte Borrel, 44-46 / Biblioteca de la Zona Nord, C. Vallcivera, 3 bis).The Joan Maragall Library is a worthy addition to this architectural heritage of contemporary civic architecture. The building is constructed semi-underground which allowed the architects to maintain the gardens belonging to the Vil.la Florida Civic Centre retaining the overall character of the area.

Project description

The main decision was whether to build under the existing park without occupying the overground planted area. The theme with which we presented the project at the ideas stage was “Garden of Light”. These two words express the two main ideas behind the project: maintaining and improving the existing garden while at the same time creating a fun and bright urban environment.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall
  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall

     

    The library was inserted underneath the Vil.la Florida park, under the shade of its trees. The library interiors becomes a landscape in themselves, articulated and varied where each user will find their own place. Both a personal and private space.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall

     

    The building addresses C/ Sant Gervasi de Cassoles, the change of level between the garden and C/ Sant Gervasi allows for an access to the new facility in an almost organic manner. The landscaped roof is meanwhile maintained at the same level as the previous garden, in this way the construction of the library restores an improved and enlarged garden area to the Civic Centre where Vil.la Florida will always be the element that presides over the building ensemble.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall

     

    The building is made up of a series of ‘light-filled and silent courtyards’ which are inter-stitched with the ‘courtyards of books and knowledge’. The former are articulated with surround floor-to-ceiling glass which bring light and air to the interior while also insulating the building from the street. The latter are seen as prismatic solids filled with books which form part of the load bearing structure of the library.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall

     

    The reading and working areas are located between the courtyards and the built volumes. Spaces that are small by nature and that aim to provide a domestic and comfortable ambience for users. The interior design is resolved through simplicity, a reduced number of textures; ceiling, flooring, furniture and walls are more or less white whereas the surfaces that enclose the retaining concrete wall structure are clad with baked clay tiles. This porous material absorbs sound and is warm to the touch as well as referencing the idea of being buried underneath the ground level.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall

     

    Two emerging building volumes relate the library to the upper ground garden level. One of these volumes is an administrative block with direct access from the entrance hall located within a privlidged position on the site. The other is a skylight that serves a kids’ library.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall

     

    The existing garden extends across roof of the new library building to the C/ Sant Gervasi de Cassoles where a new access to the gardens has been provided adjacent to the main library entrance hall. The original trees from the garden were replanted on the roof of the new library building.

  • Biblioteca Joan Maragall
  • Architects; BCQ arquitectura barcelona / David Baena, Toni Casamor / Maria Taltavull, Manel Peribáñez
  • Client; Ayuntamiento de Barcelona - Sarrià-Sant Gervasi / Barcelona d’Infraestructures Municipals – BIMSA
  • Builder; Contratas y Obras Empresa Constructora  S.A.
  • Landscaping; Doctor Árbol, Jardineria J.Bosch
  • Signage and furniture; Mobles 114, ID-CARE, Santa&Cole, Contel, Bernadí, Wholecontract, EUN Grupo, GTT, Atípic
  • www.bcq.es