Kinga Batte, Weronika Urban and Kacper Kozak, students of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology, received an honorable mention in an international competition organized by Switch Competitions. The task was to design a pavilion-library in New York's Central Park.
The competition entitled. "Central Park Book Studio" was aimed at promoting reading and creating a new type of public facility, different from typical libraries. Participants were to design an interesting pavilion in the park, which would house a library and reading room. The architecture of the facility should be inviting, informal and related to the park's surroundings.
The pavilion houses a library, a café and a bookstore
© Kinga Batte, Weronika Urban, Kacper Kozak
grid pavilion
Students placed the pavilion in the Sheep Meadow clearing in Central Park in New York City. The open nature of the facility encourages relaxation with interesting reading. A public collection of books is available for use both in and around the pavilion. If any of the books interest a reader, he or she can purchase them from the bookstore. There is also a café in the building.
The structure is made of intersecting elements
© Kinga Batte, Weronika Urban, Kacper Kozak
wooden construction
The authors, being members of the Scientific Circle of Structural Architecture at PW, wanted to pay more attention to the structure of the building. It consists of a system of intersecting glulam elements covered with transparent polycarbonate panels. The proportions of the openings in the wooden structure result from optimizing the access of light to the interior, so as to provide suitable reading conditions inside. The structure rests on four circular shafts that separate zones in the building's open space. Inside three of the shafts are support functions such as storage and restrooms. The fourth is a bright atrium with book shelves.
Openings in the structure illuminate the interior
© Kinga Batte, Weronika Urban, Kacper Kozak
organic structure
The fully glazed, horizontal facade reflects the green surroundings, making the pavilion an integral part of the park. The facade partially reveals the organic structure of the interior, inviting visitors to enter. Its undulating outline creates more open or intimate zones. This effect is further accentuated by the variable height of the ceiling. An added bonus is the seats of various types, which allow one to rearrange as desired and take a comfortable position for reading.
elaborated by {tag:AuthorAiB}
illustrations courtesy of Kinga Batte,
Weronika Urban and Kacper Kozak
