Mediatheque Mont de Marsan by archi5, photo: courtesy Communauté d’agglomération du Marsan
Montreuil, France based architects archi5 have produced a modern day library, la Mediatheque Mont de Marsan, for the Marsan urban neighborhood in southwestern France. A big square with a transparent facade and a planted roof, the Mediatheque features a distinctive open patio at its centre, “the volumes of which recall Alvar Aalto’s vases” – the initial patio utilised by a Media Library as an open reading area.
Mediatheque Mont de Marsan by archi5, photo: courtesy Communauté d’agglomération du Marsan
“The Media Library stands in the middle of the Bosquet barracks, and care has been taken to augment the dialogue with the place’s robust architectural entire.” says archi5. “With its clean envelope of pure geometric lines, a 197 ft x 197 ft square, the constructing complies with the classical layout but contrasts with its austerity by offsetting the technique with a corner opening onto the city. Its façades reflect the surrounding barracks like a respectful, deferential mirror.”
Mediatheque Mont de Marsan by archi5
“The a variety of functions are organised naturally on the open floor space, which maintains visual continuity and diffuses daylight evenly. It is a spot that supplies a relaxed, contemplative atmosphere for its customers. User intimacy is produced by the robust architectural components that inspire visual interplay. It might effectively be this ‘surprise’, almost hidden, patio that tends to make the building so popular with the public.”
Information
Client : Communauté d’agglomération du Marsan
Architects : archi5 assocated with Borja Huidobro
Plan : Building of a Mediatheque, conference hall. Conception of the furnitures and the signage.
Underground automobile park.
Adress : Caserne Bosquet, Mont de Marsan, France
Surface : 4 750 m ²
Cost : 12 309 000 € Excl. Tax.
Timetable : Competition prize winner June 2007 – Opening Nov. 2012
Pictures : Communauté d’agglomération du Marsan, Gaston F. Bergeret, Didier Boy de la Tour.
Engineer, economist : Mizrahi
Acoustic designer : Tisseyre & Associés
to the archi5 web site
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