Joan Maragall Library in Sant Gervasi

The library is located beneath the garden of the Vil·la Florida under the shade of its trees. The new building inserts itself under the garden Vil·la Florida, beneath the shade of its trees.

The new building fits underground just as a child hides (to read a book) under a carpet. Inside, a landscape in itself, articulated and changeable, where each use and each user find their place.

It is a personalized and unique space. The building is shaped by “earth patios”, volumes which, filled with earth, provide thermal inertia and maintain the existing trees whilst also providing the supporting structure of the library. Not forgetting the “light and silence patios”, complementary spaces to the ‘’earth patios’’ which, surrounded by glass, light and ventilate the interior while isolating the library from the street.

The hall is located on two floors on the strip parallel to Obispo Sivilla Street and has independent access from this street. The library develops on three floors: the basement, with four big patios of light and ventilation, will house most of the area of information and access to documents; the access floor (at level 115, the height of Sant Gervasi de Cassoles and Obispo Sivilla Streets) contains the reception and promotion area (hall, exhibitions space, information, multipurpose space, magazine area... ); and the kids area and the staff work area which are located on the upper floor (Attic floor). Some volumes of the library which are slightly higher, appear as small pavilions in the garden.

Two of them are skylights. The third contains the management and administration offices of the library, which have direct access from the Reus Street and could also have private access to the Vil·la Florida garden.

The existing garden extends through the roof of the  new library to Sant Gervasi de Cassoles Street, where a new point of access to the gardens (with escalator) is planned, next to the entrance to the hall of the Library. The outer walls of the new building will combine the glass of the lighting patios with neutral wall panels.