City library in Bruges by Studio Farris
01/07/2015.
[Bruges] Belgium
metalocus, LEONOR MARTÍN
metalocus, LEONOR MARTÍN
The Belgian Studio Farris Architects, founded by the Italian architect Giuseppe Farris, designs the extension of the municipal library of Bruges with the intention of a strong contrast with the existing building. The lower height, the Corten steel finishing and a series of windows of varying sizes, differ markedly the new building of the old library. This visual break is given by the requirements of the City of Bruges, seeking a greater visibility from the outside and a strong identity of the library regarding the rest of the cultural activities.
Description of the project by Studio Farris
The request of the client consisted of a complex set of requirements, along with the wish to make the library more visible from the adjacent streets and give it its own identity to make it stand out from the multiplicity of other services located in the existing building.
The extension is subordinate to the main building in terms of dimensions and is visually disconnected from it by its materialisation:the facades are finished in Corten steel panels that contrast with the white plastered facades of the main building. The position of the extension emphasises the tension between the existing heritage building and the new volume.
Large windows are located on the corners of the new volume to give the library the necessary visibility and interaction with its surroundings. Functions such as reading corners, workspaces and the reception desk are located close to these large windows so they benefit from the natural light streaming in.
To create pleasant atmosphere in the library, 3 different types of windows were used, allowing visitors to enjoy natural light throughout the day and seasons.
CREDITS AND DATA SHEET.-
Architect.- Studio Farris.
Location.- Bruges, Belgium.
Structural engineering.- Planet Engineering.
Technical engineering.- Studiebureau Boydens.
Contractor.- Bouw & Renovatie
Size.-555 m²
Status.- Completed in March 2015
Client.- City of Bruges.
Studio Farris Architects is an architectural practice based in Antwerp, Belgium and founded by Italian architect Giuseppe Farris in 2008. The studio’s goal is to discover the intrinsic potential in every project, questioning the obvious, exploring the surroundings and cultural heritage. This always while looking for harmony between sustainability and innovation, functionality and experience, ratio and feeling. The building’s users play a fundamental role in the conception of the architecture.
Giuseppe Farris was born on November 11, 1972 in Cagliari, Italy. After attending secondary school, he got his master in architecture at the Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV) in Venice.
In 2001 he moves to Belgium and from then he works on various projects in cooperation with Jo Crepaim. In 2008 he founds Giuseppe Farris Architects in Antwerp of which he is currently the managing director and lead architect. In 2009 he wins the competition for the refurbishment of the entrance hall of the Flemish Parliament in Brussels. After the completion in 2010, he was nominated for the Dutch Lai Award. The renovation of the city hall of Leuven, to host new spaces for Belgium’s public broadcasting company VRT, started in 2010 and was finished in 2012. In early 2015, he was nominated for the WAN 21 for21 Award (London), and shortly thereafter he won the Architizer A+ Award (New York) for the Park Tower.