martin lejarraga: public library and reading park

‘library and reading park in torre pacheco’ by spanish architect martin lejarraga has received the first prize in the built category at the 2010 urban intervention award berlin. by creating a new topography from the architecture itself and incorporating an open air park within the built program, the complex is an integrative urban space with social, cultural and design elements.

all images by david frutos courtesy martin lejarraga

the u-shaped library carves out a central public access which features a skate park, green space and bike park. the outward facing perimeter of the library seemingly pulls up the surrounding landscape to create a new terrain which accommodates new public zones including a gallery, flora gardens, numerous sporting facilities and a school.

tinted windows of the library

housed in a building shape similar to that of the library, the school lines the west end of the site and bends around to meet the raised topography. the courtyard features a covered hall with 330 seats and is capable of hosting performances and lectures. to continue the facade language between the school and the library, both buildings share a paneled look with color-blocking.

elevation and window treatment of school

school courtyard and island

playing field adjacent to the school

grass tile approach

translucent panel cladding

pod spaces and reading park

raised topography overlooking the library courtyard

aerial view

model – school in the foreground, library in the background

master plan

floor plan of library

sectional view – library

sectional view – library

sectional view – library

masterplan of the surrounding site

project info:

built-up area: 2,465 m2
site area: 18,500 m2
general budget: 2,460,000 euros
client: ayuntamiento de torre pacheco
collaborators: julián lloret, daniel ruiz, simón jiménez, mar melgarejo,
manu amate, policarpo sánchez, claudia montoya
general consultant: ACE edificación (mariano alegría, josé ibeas, pedro ruiz)