Responding to the design request is for us an opportunity to reconsider the use of the traditional library, proposing a project that enhances the user experience, functionality, and urban impact of the program within the Belle-Beille campus. Our approach to spatiality and atmosphere, in fact, goes beyond a purely architectural matter: the fluidity of pathways, the connection of spaces, intimacy, soundproofing, signage, and the interplay of colors and materials all contribute to creating a high-quality environment and strengthening the visibility of the project.
We have defined several actions, starting with the fundamental one of ease of circulation: free and intuitive. In a program that brings together multiple centers working in synergy, the issue of pathways, reference points, and visibility seemed central. For this reason, we have reorganized the hierarchy of vertical access to improve orientation: a clear and well-structured architecture facilitates easy and direct access to the cultural offerings of the program. The walkway has been designed to create a dynamic flow that reorganizes circulation and offers open views thanks to perforated railings. The two steps, initially perpendicular to the internal road, have been removed and moved to the center of the walkway, becoming the main staircase. Together with the double-height library, these steps contribute to creating a meeting point, a reference that promotes the role of an “urban square” within the project. By focusing on these atypical and auxiliary spaces, which form the backbone of the project, we encourage social interactions.
To complete our approach, we worked to improve the visibility of access to the secondary staircases by reversing their direction. This will allow for direct access to the secondary stairs from the internal road without altering the path. This change allows for a clear division of functions and optimizes the available space in the library.
In the walkway, we have included suspended work pods, able to accommodate 4 to 8 people. These spaces, conceived as independent alcoves, create additional work zones and breathe new life into the internal road, which was initially underused. Proposing atypical workspaces also means creating a more stimulating environment that fosters learning, collaboration, and exchange.
Finally, the conference and meeting spaces, aligned with the suspended walkway on the first floor, have been designed with glass walls to encourage visual permeability between the flows and animation of the library’s key spaces. As for the atmosphere, we chose to echo the color of the facades by using a soft green hue, ensuring an environment conducive to concentration.