By extending, activating open spaces and opening up, the library acts as an ensemble of spaces with opportunities into the urban space. Taking up the dynamic configuration of the building, the rooftop extension of the reading pavilion gives the library a new presence.
As an open ‘agora’ building, the library is complemented by usable outdoor spaces and integrated more strongly into the urban context by adding a storey. An open-use ‘green tableau’ will enable the library to present itself to the public in future – for example with book markets and other events – and attract new users through urban gardening and provide a stage for local actors. In order to make the library’s services accessible to a wider public, the former garage entrance of the library bus serves as an open gateway to garage sales and other activities in the makerspace and invites users to use the open-air workstations in the library garden, which is connected to the activated block passageway . A single-storey extension on the long wing of the library building with a light, almost floating ‘reading pavilion’ gives the building an unobtrusive presence towards Adenauerplatz with a ‘reading terrace’ located there.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Open competition, 3rd prize
Client: City of Mönchengladbach, Building Management Mönchengladbach
Team SMAQ: Sabine Müller und Andreas Quednau with Sofie Vaasen, Marina Rondini, Julia Streletzki, Daniel Gross, Martin Tosterud, Mikel Berra-SandÃn
with POLA (landscape architecture), c.fischer innenarchitekten (interior), Furche Geiger Zimmermann Tragwerksplaner (structure)