Brazilian architects Bruno Conde, Filipe Gebrim Doria, Filipe Lima Romeiro, and Lucas Bittar were awarded with the first prize for the design of the Santa Catarina’s Public Library Refurbishment (National Architecture Competition).
More images and architect’s description after the break.
THE MAIN IDEA
The challenge of designing the new Santa Catarina’s Public Library brought us to think this project beyond the simple material aspects of the intervention. We believe that this building should be a reference on the local society as an important cultural device. More than a new building, should be an important urban sign, a place that attracts the people to enjoy its contents.
“A poetic point of view that goes beyond the strict necessity. Architecture doesn’t follow functionality, but the opportunity ahead.” (Paulo Mendes da Rocha)
These premises leads us to a latent antagonism: how can we create a building that has an open relation with the public space but, at the same time, as a library, it has the fundamental characteristic of introspection?
The design approach shows: externally the building differentiates itself from the commercial buildings of the area, as a space designed to cultural activities, through an intriguing facade. Internally the building reveals a big variety of spaces – the central atrium guarantees the visual continuity, and the particular characteristics of each area is designed to attend the necessities (sometimes open and generous spaces, sometimes closed and restricted spaces).
