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Architects: Paleko Arch Studija
- Area: 13800 m²
- Year: 2012
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Photographs:Raimondas Urbakavicius
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Manufacturers: Hunter Douglas Architectural (Europe), Ergolain, Hunter Douglas
Text description provided by the architects. The library is on the outskirts of Vilnius. A relatively quiet and leafy location of the existing university campus is about to change significantly. In upcoming years, a new agglomeration of education facilities will emerge here. The library is located near the pinewood, at the intersection of the main pedestrian path and a new access road. Neighborhood of the forest has inspired a spatial conception of the library - cozy inside spaces and their linkage with the nature.
An intimate amphitheater-plaza is welcoming a visitor. A glazed entrance hall is a continuation of the plaza space. The same as the outside, it has concrete floor and terracotta facades. The ground floor, which functions as a central circulation space, also includes a conference hall, cafeteria, periodicals-reading room with an open-air terrace. As walking further, one is entering reading rooms located on several floors which are connected by an atrium, focusing the view to the forest. Two glazed facades face the wood and illuminate the trees at night. At the daytime, the trees are sunlit and become a visual part of the interior. The spaces are diverse and easily transformed. In the interior, white color dominates and exposes books as well as people.
We believe that the library should radiate an emotional charge because it is a place of non-material creativity and spirituality. Therefore, we have chosen the scenery of expressively and unpredictably varying silhouettes as the main architectural language. The volumes are clad with white terracotta elements. The facades are arranged so that all joints and gaps are horizontal and run paralelly around the building despite different angles of leaned surfaces. Rooms are naturally ventilated via window openings. Solid south-side partitions hide people and books from direct sun and overheating.
