Murado & Elvira · Architecture

Baiona Public Library

Baiona Public Library

Baiona Public Library

Murado & Elvira, Architecture And Design

BUDGET
$1m - 5m

AREA
10,000 Sqft - 25,000 Sqft

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Pontevedra, GA, Spain

TYPE
Educational › Library

The new Public Library and Historic Archive is located at the former Sancti Spiritus Hospital. The existing structure was built in the XVI century behind the ex-collegiate church of Santa María.

Baiona Public Library
Baiona Public Library

It is a two-level building embedded in the sloped historic city center with a garden and an inner courtyard. The intervention aims to implement a contemporary library and archive in the old structure in a straightforward and easy way.

In the ground floor a large hallway is opened. Like an indoors street, it links the main entrance with the patio and garden.

Baiona Public Library
© Imagen Subliminal
Baiona Public Library

The multipurpose room and the children’s library extend freely to the courtyard. The perimeter of this room is defined by a sequence of curves in different apertures.

This geometry takes advantage of the original space’s irregular shape and gives it a new playful identity.

Baiona Public Library
© Imagen Subliminal
Baiona Public Library

The curved wooden walls integrates the shelving and some openings to hidden spaces behind, such as a wardrobe and a puppet theatre.

The first floor is also organized in a way that stresses the importance of the courtyard. All the space is opened around this epicenter, so that the main reading room runs without interruptions.

Baiona Public Library
© Imagen Subliminal
Baiona Public Library

A double maple wooden skin envelops this space completely, opening a concentric functional band composed by a series of interstitial rooms: individual studies, bathrooms, offices and bench reading rooms.


Baiona Public Library
© Imagen Subliminal
Baiona Public Library
Baiona Public Library
© Imagen Subliminal

Baiona Public Library
Baiona Public Library


Baiona Public Library
Baiona Public Library
Baiona Public Library
Baiona Public Library


Baiona Public Library

Murado & Elvira · Architecture
T +34 919 309087
Murado & Elvira · Architecture
C. de los Artistas, 26, bajo B, Tetuán, 28020 Madrid, Spain