University Library

The building consists of two main volumes, forming two cubes connected by a footbridge that passes through the entrance hall. The entrance is located on the ground floor within a large glass space designed as a covered piazza, serving as a natural extension of the main axis and maintaining a visual connection with the Science Museum’s entrance hall. A suspended floor in this hall becomes a defining feature, allowing light to filter down to the underground levels.

The core of the library is contained within these two volumes, where the gallery walls are entirely lined with books. Natural light is carefully managed through a significant gap that controls brightness. The spacious galleries overlook a central void, which gradually narrows from bottom to top, allowing light to enter harmoniously while shaping dedicated reading spaces.

The library’s offices are located in Volume 1, situated on the eastern side of the building. Volume 2 houses a multimedia room and three spaces with open shelves for browsing.

Originally intended as a parking area, the basement has been repurposed for a more refined function. It now features recessed areas with bookcases, while the central section combines additional book storage with dedicated reading spaces. Additionally, two large rooms in the basement serve as archival storage for books. All floors within each volume are connected by a panoramic elevator, allowing users to access the footbridge and move between the two sections of the building.

Finally, the volumes are topped with a combination of opaque, overhanging, and glass layers. The opaque sections are clad in zinc sheet metal, while the overhanging layers feature photovoltaic panels, sized to fit seamlessly with the structure. Both the entrance hall and the cubic volumes are enclosed in glass, with thin layers designed to control solar radiation.