Library in Bergamo
The project conducted during the Diploma semester at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, under professor Johnathan Sergison.
The project aims to create an environment which stimulates people as a place of concentration but also as a public space, meeting point, place of cultural entertainment and a new foster of interaction in Bergamo.
Piazza della Republica, which is currently a disorganized urban space seemed appropriate for the new library, giving a possibility for the organization and redefinition of the public square next to the building. Its urban role is to follow the rhythm of the surrounding public buildings, enhancing the continuation of pedestrian route towards Citta Alta and being a new part of the ensemble.
The volume of the library establish direct relationship with the context through placement and height. The library is 4-storey building. Slightly moving from the lower edge of the street emphasize entrance area from the city as well as the gesture aspires to form and define generous public space behind the library.
Shaping of overall volume leads to an impression of three cores holding the whole building. North facade is stepping in direction of the piazza, giving protection under cantilevered level and articulating the entrance from the park. The higher levels of the facade are stepping more slightly creating a readable differentiation of the floors.
The program of the building offers floor to floor experience. The ground floor of the new library is perceived as unified and freely connected with the piazza and street, enclosed by glazed facade. The journey through different floors and programs via main staircase allows experiencing each of the vast interiors and its close connection with the park.
First floor hosts book storage area. On the second floor is located office and space for the quiet reading. The top floor accommodates grand reading room with the green atrium bringing light to the main library space. From there you can get to the rooftop garden, outdoor reading spaces and panoramic view towards the Citta Alta.
