The New Madrid Library
Team: Kateryna Bondarenko, Anna Khyzhniak, Oleh Horban
Location: Plaza de Villa, Madrid
Category: Culture - competition project
Area: 2200 sq m
Timeline: Dec 2020
Role: Anna Khyzhniak, Kateryna Bondarenko - architects
Role: Anna Khyzhniak, Kateryna Bondarenko - architects
Oleh Horban - visualization
Plaza de la Villa is one of the oldest squares in Madrid, surrounded by old historic buildings. The main idea of the project was not to change the surrounding context, but to emphasize it. So, it was logical to form the library as an underground space and save the square. Entrance to the library is formed in a simple cubic hape made of glass, so it reveals that the main context is historical surrounding and not the building itself. Water was used as an element of landscape design in honor of the great Spanish admiral, and as a symbol of circulating knowledge that flows to its fountainhead - the Library. The reflection of a building in the water creates an illusion that the building has no base, and it just “grows” out of the ground.
Morphogenesis
Transparency of the “cube” and an atrium provide an underground coffee shop with sunlight. Also, from the underground floor you can see the water surface through the glass ceiling. Light that comes into underground space through the water creates a caustic, a beautiful phenomenon.Library and office are provided with sunlight through the skylights. Height of the underground floor of the library is only 3 meters - it creates a chamber and cozy space, filled with the light.
It was important to save the existing paving stone and use it in landscape design. Square was provided with green zones, dry fountain (so anyone can cool down in hot summer), trampolines in the ground (they are not only for children) and seating places on the stairs around the building. All these facilities should attract citizens and tourists. People can find historical information about the square on the edges of “cube” while they are walking or resting on the stairs. One of the edges displays a silhouette of Don Alvare de Bazan - from the side where monument were standing. In this way tourists can learn more about the Plaza de la Villa and history of a place.
It was important to save the existing paving stone and use it in landscape design. Square was provided with green zones, dry fountain (so anyone can cool down in hot summer), trampolines in the ground (they are not only for children) and seating places on the stairs around the building. All these facilities should attract citizens and tourists. People can find historical information about the square on the edges of “cube” while they are walking or resting on the stairs. One of the edges displays a silhouette of Don Alvare de Bazan - from the side where monument were standing. In this way tourists can learn more about the Plaza de la Villa and history of a place.
