* Architecture: Public Library, Vallecas by EXIT Architects

Architecture: Public Library, Vallecas by EXIT Architects: “..a ‘public library..which metaphorically represents the cover and contents of a book. wrapped in an enigmatic cover to attract visitors, a reveal within the facade gives onlookers glimpses of the inside without immediately revealing the entire contents. surrounding with a pedestrian boulevard in a residential district, visually lifted by a band of columns windows, the elevated opaque mass contains four storeys of program creating a dense and compact form. three entrances at different sides of the site lead to a main hall..above the general lobby, each successive level contains children / teen content, periodicals, the general collection and meeting rooms. six circular courtyards encased with glass vertically pierce the volume, unifying the building in section and creating reading areas with views to the sky. the tubular voids introduce natural daylight throughout the open floor plans..”  Interesting details and light-wells, contemporary take on the visual and social interaction between a library and its public..

See our posts on two other projects by EXIT Architects: Architecture: Civic Centre in Palencia by Exit Architects and Architecture: Easter Sculpture Museum by EXIT Architects.

image: © miguel de guzmán, pablo álvarez couso, EXIT architects, Courtesy of EXIT Architects; article: Designboom

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* Architecture: Civic Centre in Palencia by Exit Architects

Architecture: Civic Centre in Palencia by Exit Architects: “..a civic and cultural centre inside a former prison..Constructed from load-bearing brickwork, the nineteenth century building comprises four wings that have been completely refurbished to accommodate an auditorium, a library, multi-function rooms and classrooms for art and music..A translucent glass pavilion provides an entrance to the building, while new walls and roof structures have been created over and around the existing blocks using zinc and more semiopaque glass..”  Another repurposed prison (see our post Architecture: Museum and Exposition Centre by Atelier Kempe Thill, for another excellent example), historic, cultural and contemporary sensibility, natural light, social..very good photos by Fernando Guerra..

See our post on other impressive repurposing work by Exit Architects: Architecture: Easter Sculpture Museum by EXIT Architects.

image: Fernando Guerra; article: Dezeen

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* Architecture: Easter Sculpture Museum by EXIT Architects

Architecture: Easter Sculpture Museum by EXIT Architects: “.. the original painted facade which responds to the adjacent church and surroundings has been restored while the rest of the house was replaced with a contemporary gallery. fusing the vintage facade and new exhibition areas, the translucent glass-enclosed volume fulfills the original footprint and maintains the established scale relationships of the context, adjusting the arrangement of the levels to adapt to the sloping terrain..the use and inclusion of local stone as a building material integrates the character of the town. setback from the retained structure, a plaza is created at the main entrance for visitors as well as a large portal which opens the exposed facade. a bright interior surfaced with white concrete surrounds the display spaces. art pieces stand upon wooden boxes, organizing the circulation through the collections. the combination of illumination and materiality support the religious tone of the collections..”  Fascinating integration of existing vernacular and contemporary, translucency, striking interior volumes, juxtaposition of textures and materials..

image: © fernando guerra; article: Designboom

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