1901
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania

This urban and architectural proposal melds spatial design principles with the needs of dynamic public spaces. A diagonal axis harmonizes the public area with the interior, dividing the building into two connected parts: an eastern library on the upper level and a western community education center below. These sections interact seamlessly with adjacent public micro-spaces.

The library, integrated into the urban fabric and near the street, energizes the vibrant green boulevard, offering diverse communal areas. This unobtrusive, pavilion-style building, located centrally on the site, features overlapping spatial compositions. The site boasts various public zones: green squares, multi-purpose grounds, an amphitheater, a covered terrace, a swimming pool with seating, and a raised garden with perimeter seating. Entrances and a readers’ balcony create sheltered micro-spaces with seating. The library extends public space indoors, drawing visitors in from the entrance into a public interior.

The library’s interior is an extension of the park’s cultural landscape and newly-formed squares, merging the outside public space with the building’s interior. The monumental silhouette and compact spatial arrangement enable the creation and management of surrounding public spaces. Unique site features, such as main entrances and an outdoor readers’ terrace, are emphasized by strategic space cuts.

The western and southern façades, dominated by glazed glass, reduce glare, cooling costs, and bird collision risks while providing a “soft” exterior look. In contrast, the northern and eastern façades feature blind supporting walls with vertically profiled metal panels and perforated graphics, mirroring the glass façade designs.

The main library space exudes an inviting atmosphere, with wood prominently used in floors, ramps, bookshelves, tables, and staircases that connect the exterior to the main hall. Ceramic-printed, gradient-coated, tinted glass surrounds the building, offering panoramic park views.

Both the library and the community education center maintain direct visual contact with the ground level, with administrative spaces located near both facilities. As a civic center for knowledge sharing, the library’s design emphasizes the importance of public space and iconicity.

Architects

Dominykas Daunys, Petras Isora, Vano Ksnelashvili, Ona Lozuraityte, David Tsanava

Collaborators

KILD, Baltic Engineers

Status

Competition

Type

Public Library and Community Center

Location

Statybininku pr. Klaipeda, Lithuania

Year

2019

Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 1 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 2 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 3 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 4 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 5 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 6 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 7 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 8 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 9 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 10 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 11 / 12
Library and Community Centre
Library and Community Centre, Klaipeda, Lithuania 12 / 12