Library in Bruges: History and Modernity
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Back in 2012, the City of Bruges in Belgium organized a competition for the renovation and expansion of the Sint-Andries city library. The winner was Antwerp-based Studio Farris Architect who managed to create a building that stood out from the crowd. Covered in maintenance-free, rusty Corten steel panels, it creates a stunning contrast against the white plastered skin’s main building.
The clients’ brief was to make the library more visible from the street so that it will stand out with its very own identity among other services in the same building. But the architects’ task wasn’t easy, as the plot was very small and also, the existing building was listed as architectural heritage. The result is a building renovation that, although smaller than the main building, is strikingly different in style and materials.
The new addition is made from a beautiful copper Corten steel (weathering steel) panels that contrast with the white plastered skin of the main building. The library’s interiors are pure white and feature three different types of windows that flood spaces with daylight and allow the passersby a good glance inside. Reading corners, workspaces and the reception desk are located close to these large windows so they benefit from the natural light streaming in.
STUDIO FARRIS ARCHITECTS