Library Buildings around the World

Serôdio Furtado Arquitectos, Porto – Portugal
http://www.serodiofurtado.com
Libraries:
Escola Secundária de Ponte de Lima, Ponte de Lima - Portugal under construction
Client: Parque Escolar EPE, 18 669 m2
Com este projecto pretendeu-se reabilitar o património edificado existente (melhorando significativamente as suas condições infraestruturais)
introduzindo novas áreas programáticas capazes de conferir uma efectiva modernização no ambiente escolar ao nível da
organização espacio-funcional.
A intervenção compreendeu:
1- a reabilitação dos três edifícios de sala de aulas existentes: Blocos 2, 4 e 5,
2- a demolição integral de um edifício de oficinas e mecânicas a substituir por um novo: Bloco 1,
3- a demolição integral do pavilhão polivalente: Bloco 6 que deverá ser substituído por um novo edifício com espaços de utilização
idênticos;
4- a substituição da cobertura do pavilhão gimnodesportivo,
5- a reconstrução dos balneários: Bloco 3;
6- a construção nova de um edifício sobre o campo de jogos exterior destinado essencialmente a laboratórios.
Salienta-se a Estrutura do Edificio que enquadra o Campo de Jogos e os Laboratórios, que face às exigências do programa funcional
condicionou o afastamento dos elementos verticais, pelo que temos uma solução de afastamento de 14.00m numa direcção e 31.50m
na outra. A vencer o vão de 31.50m existem vigas transversais pré-esforçadas distanciadas de 7.00m entre si. Ou seja, estas vigas préesforçadas
vão apoiar alternadamente sobre os pilares ou sobre as vigas parede longitudinais da fachada. (Serodio)
Alvaro Siza Vieira, Porto – Portugal
Awards:
RIBA Gold Medal 2009
http://alvarosizavieira.com
Libraries:
Biblioteca Municipal, Viana do Castelo – Portugal 2007
3.130m², Furniture supplier: Design by Álvaro Siza Vieira, Overall Cost: € 4.500.000
It is a two storey square shaped building, formed by an elevated volume of 45x45 meters, including a void of 20x20 meters, prolonged
eastward on the first floor by a L shaped volume. The library headquarters, the library events area and the bar are on the first floor
and the reading rooms are on the second floor. (http://www.librarybuildings.info)
Faculty of Architecture (Library), Porto – Portugal 1995
The buildings of the Porto architecture school are set on a terraced site high above the estuary of the Douro River. This area is
bordered on three sides by highway exits and by Campo Alegre street, and on the east by the former estate of Quinta da Povoa - the
site of the architecture school before its expansion, which houses an earlier project by Siza - the first-year Carlos Ramos Pavilion.
Adjacent to the rusticated stone wall of the estate, the new faculty buildings stretch out along two vertices of a triangular site,
enclosing between them a courtyard and central meeting space.
The main building on the northern side, a continuous volume which provides visual and acoustic protection from the road above,
contains departmental offices, lecture halls, an auditorium and a library. Across the courtyard on the southern side are four
individual studio towers, which are placed several meters apart to allow views to the river, their different heights and facade
configurations conforming to variations in the program. These are connected to the main building by a series of corridors below the
plaza.
The volumes of the main building and towers converge westward, where a cafe pavilion and outdoor terrace mark the entrance to
the site. At the opposite end, the courtyard leads to an elevated grass platform, which in turn climbs up by a series of ramps and
stairs to the former estate and garden, giving access through a narrow gate to the Carlos Ramos Pavilion. Set at the apex of the
estate, this simple two-story structure is a succinct summary of the courtyard plan - a U-shaped classroom building with its two
wings converging at a sharp angle. While its exterior facades are blind, the large pivoting windows facing the interior courtyard
allow complete transparency between the classrooms on either side of the building, and views beyond to the garden and river.
The materials used in the interior of the more recent addition include exotic wood for the floors and wainscots, marble in the foyers
and stairs, specially-designed furniture for the classrooms, auditorium and library, and skylights which draw natural light into the
main spaces. (http://www.galinsky.com)
Campus Universitário de Santiago, University Library, Aveiro – Portugal 1994
The library plays a central role in the organisation of the university campus situated on the edge of the city of Aveiro. A freestanding
curving wall characterises the western façade and expresses the reinforced concrete structure of the building. (Siza)
José Manuel Soares, Porto – Portugal
Libraries :
Almeida Garrett Library, Porto – Portugal 2001
This building has two great functions: Public Library and a new exposition hall. There is also an auditorium for 200 people
determined to conferences, films projection and other shows. Its location, between the street "Entrequintas" and the gardens of the
crystal palace has an intense presence with the nature giving it a peaceful environment to build a library. With a great attention to
details, the main façade is covered with pine wood to create a shield from the sun to the exposition rooms. The library has to floors
with a big opening that connects visually the two levels. (Soares)
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