Castel Maggiore Library
A library is an important public institution in a small community.
It is a typology with a great social value, it is a cultural and social space.
Libraries are cultural centre open the whole day and they are designed to host complementary and different functions.
The designed building is a small architecture with a clear and autonomous form.
This simple circle, with a diameter of 45 meters, is divided in two equal parts: a first one with the main spaces of the library and a second part with an open air theatre.
The built area is on three floors with one of them under the level of the park.
The spaces for the library and exhibitions are on the first two floors and the spaces for the municipality and public services are on the last floor.
The building is oriented in order to use as better as possible the solar the sun exposure and its shape give a double relation with the context: the southern side is a circular closed facade which is protecting the spaces from the traffic and a northern side open to the park.
The main entrance hall connects the exhibition space with the reading room and a third area with newspapers and cafeteria area.
This exhibition space is divided on two floors and it can exhibition, events and concerts.
The spaces of the library are as well divided on two floors and they are in strong relation with the exhibition spaces and the open spaces.
At the first floor there is the main reading room. In this space windows are open to the park and they gives a diffuse light to the interior spaces, bookshelf are covering all the perimeter and the wooden volume in the center of the building divides and connects the spaces of this level.
The lower floor is a more protected space where student can have their space in a more calm and silent enviroment.
On the higher floor there are all the services for the community, council chambers and a multipurpose space. This floor is organized around a generous distribution where it is possible to arrange events for the community and use as an extension of the the functional spaces.
The materials of the the building are ordinary, simple and with a long durability.
The exterior walls are in bricks with a similar tone mortar to increase the homogeneity of the surfaces,
The interiors are in raw concrete and wood and floors are in wooden planks for the main spaces and tiles for the services and technical spaces.
