The Book Cathedral Beneath Exposed Rafters

Warsaw University of Technology, (Politechnika Warszawska), Faculty of Architecture, Warszawa

Project idea

A new library has been built in a historic setting in the center of Rzeszów. Its gabled roof, finished with clay tiles, drawing a direct reference to the surrounding context. The building’s volume was seamlessly integrated into three existing rows of trees.

The building abuts the street, completing the street frontage of Piłsudskiego Avenue alongside the municipal office and the high school. An arcade wrapping around three sides of the building mirrors the street structure established by the nearby shopping center.

These arcades reference the town hall, as do the balcony, the triaxial facade, the rectangular gable crown featuring an eagle, and the circular windows that accentuate key focal points.

The interior draws the visitor upward via linear stairs, offering a view of the exposed roof trusses, where the main reading room awaits at the end of the journey, overlooking the Rzeszów Monument and the surrounding greenery. A designated section of the municipal auditorium connects with the media library within the exhibition area.

In the courtyard, tiered seating stairs have been arranged along the willow trees. Behind them, an amphitheater for outdoor performances and film screenings was created, utilizing the surplus soil excavated during the foundation works.

Project description

The building comprises a central volume and two wings. The ground floor of the main section houses a lobby and a restaurant, while the upper floor contains a media library and a children's library. The third floor is dedicated to the main, double-height reading room, featuring mezzanines and a panoramic view of the Rzeszów Monument. The ground floors of the side wings accommodate commercial spaces; additionally, one wing houses a municipal auditorium, while the other functions as a book depository. The ground floor features an open-plan layout, seamlessly connecting with the city to allow free movement and unobstructed views. The C-shaped footprint of the building encloses a green inner courtyard, which, by preserving a significant number of existing trees, creates an inviting space for leisure, including watching outdoor cinema.

Technical information

The building was designed using a timber post-and-panel construction system, utilizing CLT (cross-laminated timber) and GLT (glued-laminated timber) components. The roof structure consists of engineered timber trusses. The walls are designed as prefabricated sandwich panels, with the timber boards left exposed on the interior, while the exterior is finished with a white, natural lime plaster. The roof is clad with plain clay tiles (beavertail tiles). Timber shading elements are integrated around the windows. The floors are planned to be finished with a seamless, vibration-dampening compound. The ground-floor columns and the basement structure are made of reinforced concrete. These columns are clad in a beige-grey limestone.

Documentation

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