BCQ Arquitectura Barcelona, SLP

Joan Maragall Library

Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez

JOAN MARAGALL LIBRARY

BCQ Arquitectura

STRUCTURES
Manuel Arguijo y Asociados S.L.

DIRECTION
IDP Enginyeria i Arquitectura

RENDERINGS
Vicentiu Sopterean, Jordi Rodríguez

CONSTRUCTIONS
Contratas y Obras Empresa Constructora S.A.

MANUFACTURERS
Assa abloy, baupanel system, ferro, halton, jaga, jansen, mobles 114, otis, santa & cole, decorinox, eun grupo, magdan, marbres & granits llica, pavindus, sti, talleres balleste

COLLABORATORS
Alexandre liberato, mika iitomi, jordi sánchez, vasco mourão, roser marí, jordi rodríguez

BUILDING FACILITIES
JG Ingenieros S.A. / Mercadomótika

COST
7.645.084 €

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Barcelona, Spain

CATEGORY
Library

Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez

Text description provided by architect.

The main decision was to build the new building below the old existing garden and not take a part of this space.

The motto with which we presented the project to the competition of ideas was "Garden of Light".

These two words sum up the two ideas of the project: to maintain and improve the existing garden, and at the same time get cheerful and well-lit spaces.

Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez
Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez

The library is inserted under the garden of Florida Villa, in the shade of its trees. Inside, a landscape in itself, articulated and changing, where each use and each user find their place. It is a personalized and unique space.

The building will particularly relate to Sant Gervasi de Cassoles street. The gap between the garden and Sant Gervasi street allow a natural access to the new facility..

Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez
Joan Maragall Library
Cortesía de BCQ Arquitectura

On the other hand, the green roof will be at the same level as the old garden, so the construction of the new facility will mean the restoration of the garden from the civic center in its maximum dimension, where Florida Villa is always the building that presides the whole ensemble

The building is formed by the "light and silence courtyards" and "books and knowledge courtyards."

Joan Maragall Library
Cortesía de BCQ Arquitectura
Joan Maragall Library
Cortesía de BCQ Arquitectura

The first, surrounded by glass, light and ventilate the interior while isolating the library from the street. The second, solid prisms filled with books, are part of the supporting structure of the library.

Among the courtyards and the volumes, interior spaces for reading and work are articulated. These are spaces that should be small and seeking to give a comfortable feeling of domesticity to users.

Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez
Joan Maragall Library
Cortesía de BCQ Arquitectura
Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez

The interior is designed simply with few textures; ceiling, floor, furniture and walls in general are white, while the walls that conceal the retaining concrete walls and building structures are covered with clay tiles. 

This porous material, warm and sound absorbent, is a reminder that this is a semi-buried building dug into the ground.

To link the library with the upper garden, two volumes project. One of them is a space for library support with direct access from the lobby, located in a privileged area.

The other is a skylight in the playground.

Joan Maragall Library
Cortesía de BCQ Arquitectura
Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez

The existing garden extends through the roof of the new library, up to the same road Sant Gervasi de Cassoles, from which arises a new access to the gardens next to the entrance to the main lobby of the Library.

The original trees of the old garden have been replanted on the roof of the new library.

Joan Maragall Library
© Ariel Ramírez


Joan Maragall Library
Floor Plan -1
Joan Maragall Library
Ground Floor Plan


Joan Maragall Library
Section 1
Joan Maragall Library
Section 2
Joan Maragall Library
Section 3
Joan Maragall Library
Section Detail


Joan Maragall Library
Elevation 1
Joan Maragall Library
Elevation 2
Joan Maragall Library
Elevation 3

BCQ Arquitectura Barcelona, SLP
T +34 932 372721
BCQ Arquitectura Barcelona, SLP
Carrer de Vallirana, 30, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08006 Barcelona, Spain