The architecture studio M. i A. Domicz designed the Municipal and Community Public Library in the historic city of Głuchołazy, located in southwestern Poland. The project is an expansion of the existing Cultural Center and was designed following the principles of pragmatism.

The Library was built on the site of a dilapidated building that served as a cinema in the last years of its existence. From the original construction, the brick interior with vaults supported by a stone column has been preserved. The floor of this room was lowered to its original level, exposing the bases of the columns.
M. i A. Domicz's project is located on two floors of an elongated rectangular block. On the ground floor, there is a children's loan room and a cafeteria, as well as a bathroom for the library and auditorium in the lobby. On the first floor, there is a rental section and a reading room. There are rooms for filing preparation and storage in the library part on the courtyard side of the building. A multifunctional space connects the Library and the Cultural Center and is a venue for exhibitions, conferences, and an existing auditorium foyer.

The internal façade of the library is divided evenly by strips of glass and concrete painted white, spaced 2.1 m apart. This module is used inside the library to determine the height of doors, shelves, and folders. The project references the history of the city of Głuchołazy, once famous for its gold mines, through the use of the old gold color in the entrance door, the carpentry, and the infographic elements.
 

Description of project by M. i A. Domicz

Construction of Public Library was an opportunity to expand the program of existing Cultural Centre. A multifunctional space was designed between the new volume of the library and Cultural Centre. It is a place for exhibitions, lectures and a foyer of the existing auditorium.

The Public Library was designed according to the principles of pragmatism and is devoid of architectural fireworks. The library is located on two floors of an elongated, rectangular block. The walls on the plot border are devoid of window openings. The reading and lending rooms are lit indirectly through the roof gap running along the hall. Children's library on the ground floor is the only place with windows opening on a garden. A two-storey hall accessible from the street via a golden gate fills the space between the library and Cultural Centre. The difference in level between the entrances to the library and the Centre's auditorium was used to create an amphitheater auditorium.

The Public Library in Głuchołazy is hidden among a dense urban development at the back of Bohaterów Warszawy Street. The structure of the library building is simple, clear and obvious. On the ground floor, there is a lending room for children and a cafe as well as restroom for the library and the auditorium in foyer. On the first floor there is a rental section and a reading room. There are rooms for the preparation of archive and a storage in the part of the library on the courtyard side of the building.

The library was built on the site of a ruined building that served as a cinema in the last years of its existence. The only spatially valuable room has been preserved - a brick interior with vaults supported on a stone column. The floor of this room was lowered to its original level, revealing bases of the columns. The multifunctional foyer is a necessary expansion of the Cultural Center. As well as additional backstage and storage spaces.

Functional logic and a simple structure allowed for a significant reduction of the building costs in relation to other objects of this type. The structure of the building is a reinforced concrete skeleton supplemented with brick walls made of sand-lime blocks (Silca). The internal facade of the library is evenly divided by strips of glass and white painted concrete, spaced 2.1 m apart. This module is used in the interior of the library to determine the height of doors, shelves and binders.

White walls and wooden floors provide a neutral background for interior design. The entrance gate, carpentry, handrails, infographic elements - are in the color of old gold, which refers to the history of the town of Głuchołazy, once famous for its gold mines.

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Architects
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M. i A. Domicz.- Antoni Domicz, Malgorzata Pizio-Domicz.
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Client
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Centrum Kultury im. Kawalerów Orderu Uśmiechu w Głuchołazach.
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Budget
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650 €/m².
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Area
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Total area.- 960 sqm. Usable floor area.- 1115 sqm.
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Dates
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2019.
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Location
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Głuchołazy, Poland.
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Photography
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M. i A. Domicz – architecture studio was founded by Małgorzata and Antoni Domicz in 1990. It is a small family company that specializes in development of public buildings in Opole (Poland) and its vicinity. Most of the studio's designs are the result of successful architectural competitions. Małgorzata and Antoni Domicz received the Honorary SARP Award in 2014 – the most prestigious award for Polish architects.
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Published on: June 29, 2021
Cite: "A tribute to Polish culture. Public Library in Głuchołazy by M. i A. Domicz" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/a-tribute-polish-culture-public-library-glucholazy-m-i-a-domicz> ISSN 1139-6415
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