The volume composition of the NUK II University Library is formed as a group of three volumes set on top of an elevated plateau hovering above the excavations. Designed by SANGRAD Architects, AVP Arhitekti, and Biro Arhitekti, this unity of forms also means a unity of space, function and organization. Within the existing roman structure (which is understood as geometrical and spatial order, urban definition and direction), the archaeological grid becomes the base of the library functional scheme and the excavations are actively transferred to the future architectural assembly. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The square, which is a programmatically necessary space of a public building in this case, is being located under the building along the ancient streets F and H. The original walls of the archaeological excavations determine the depression of the square and its connection to the city streets Zoisova and Emonska (main entrances to the building). The passage through the building (planned by the project) thus becomes an active plaza, to be reached from all sides. A service entrance is envisaged from Rimska street. A bus station in the Zoisova street has been planned next to the South-West fringe of the land plot, while the South-East has been taken by the impluvium reconstruction. On Zoisova street there are also additional city bus lane, cycling lane and tree line. Emonska street has been planed as a shared space with a tree line along both sides of the road (extension of Plečnik`s green avenue). 12 car parking spaces for library urgent needs are located along Emonska street while bicycle parking spaces are located along both Emonska and Zoisova street and in the back of the library.
The library building forms a closed block with the existing residential building in the Northwestern part of the site. At the places of connection between the new with the old, the volume is lowered at both wings, respectively ending in the second floor (top of roof 14.10). Compact volumes (four floors high, roof top 28.00) are coming out of the two floor base set above the transparent ground floor and mezzanine.
The library building is introverted, dignified and at the typological hierarchy, a highly ranked form. The historical roman excavations are partly closed in the transparent glass in the first two floors. Above them hovers a “heavy” corpus with a stainless-steel skin which reflects the surroundings in a somewhat murky, reduced outline. Through slits of the massive volume done by continuous glass stripes the secondary visual of the interior is presenting itself as a inner light, movements of people, colors and a diverse setting of furniture that makes the interior very rich.
For the needs of heating, cooling and ventilation, a maximum of the lands hydro-potential usage is anticipated. It is suggested to install heat pumps water-water which shall, by permanent work, cover the major part of the necessary capacities of heating and cooling. The pumps are to be situated in the basement with a maximum of COP-5. Combined with solar panels situated at the roof top (where a machine station is anticipated) hot water for the heating has been connected with a system of heat pumps for space and sanitary water heating.
For the basic working, day and night work, a gas co-generator is anticipated producing electricity (at the same time exchanging the necessary power generator) and heating energy. The solar panels will provide electricity production so the building should cover most of its needs for electrical energy for heating, cooling and ventilation within most of the year. In the sense of the above mentioned, the adequate technical performance of the structure is antici-pated in the class “A” according to energy certification.
Architects: SANGRAD Architects, AVP Arhitekti, Biro Arhitekti Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia Team: Vedran Pedišić, Mladen Hofmann, Iva Marjančević, Gordana Gregurić Miočić, Igor Blaha, (SANGRAD architects), Erick Velasco Farrera (AVP_arhitekti), Tomaž Stražar, Bor Ivačič (BIRO arhitekti) Collaborators: Robert Jonathan, Vlatka Revald Radolić, Prof. Boris Baljkas, Željko Bertić, Igor Kozlina, Luka Vlahović, Ivan Capan Owner/Client: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Status: Competition entry Building Area: 20,830.00 m2
