Antwerp City Library
Belgium, 2005. Bibliotheek Antwerpen. Winning design for rehabilitation of an old car garage and its transformation into a modern library.
Situation
Municipality of Belgium’s City of Antwerp issues an European contest for its main city library, to be designed in a old car garage.
Target
Create a place where people like to gather and make sure it can be used in various ways. And by the way, connect a café and city hall too.
Action
A humble interior design leaves room for the origin of the building. The color red is only used to express special areas, thus reflecting the hidden value of Antwerp’s multiple cultures, living next door to the library.
Result
A professional and highly flexible library space with great industrial looks. Due to the scarce use of color the library is as timeless as it is distinctive.
Did you know?
This design was a winning design and build competition entry aatvos issued in cooperation with FJBV, StonePark Interiorbuilders, Linthorst Interieurbouw [all NL], Schulz Benelux [Belgium] and Schulz Library Design, Germany. And by the way, the budget was fixed. And not exceeded.
