Library

In the mid-20th century, in the heart of Bogotá, Colombia, one of the greatest architectural landmarks in the history of this city was taking shape. At that time, Luis Ángel Arango, the manager of the Banco de la República, began to work on establishing a library to house the collection of books that the bank had been acquiring over 30 years and which continued to grow. It was then that the firm Esguerra Sáenz and Samper appeared on the scene, to whom the design of this space was attributed, created in several stages over a span of twenty years.

El Tintal Library is the result of reusing a former disused waste transfer plant and transforming the 5-hectare site into a park along Avenida Ciudad de Cali with 6th Street. The rescued building from ruin was a 25-meter-wide by 72-meter-long industrial warehouse with a total area of 3,600 m², distributed over two floors of considerable height. Built with a sturdy concrete structure and large spans, it was adaptable to new use, enhancing its robust and industrial appearance.

Founded 20 years ago, this library is situated on the 5th floor of a government building, with neighboring markets and a nursery downstairs in New Taipei City Taishan District. The interior space was cramped and obsolete, poorly organized in layout, insufficient daylighting, and leaking issues, which is not safe and an unheard of spot among citizens. Nowadays, by implementing app reservation systems and inter-library book sharing, there are more spaces allowed to improve visitor movement. Additionally, children under age 12 account for 11% of this district population, which means, including their parents, approximately 30% of the population may need a children’s reading area. Considering that, a cozy and spacious child reading area for all ages is our main concern as well.

The project includes the construction of a new library and the refurbishment and upgrading of existing buildings. Villa von Bülow, a neoclassical building from the 19th century, is listed as a historical monument and has been carefully restored. The former nurses’ residence of the adjacent hospital, dating back to the 1970s, has been incorporated into the research campus, also refurbished and repurposed as an administrative building. A delicate glass bridge connects the new with the existing buildings, creating an exciting interplay between old and new and a dynamic sense of identity.

Bookstore – Juanzong Books is located at the Anaya Art Center in Qinhuangdao. It was originally a coffee shop with two spaces connected together, one high and one low, about 100 square meters in total. The clear height of the high space is 6m. Guests enter from the second floor of the Art Center and walk down the stairs to the concierge. The low space is only 2.5m high and opens towards an outdoor sunken theater. Due to the construction period being only one month, we have retained all walls and floors without any hidden construction work and only changed the atmosphere of the space by replacing the suspended ceiling and furniture. Since it is an architectural bookstore, it should have a corresponding atmosphere, not too fashionable or too exquisite. The items in the space should be simple and direct, creating a sense of ‘workspace’. The lighting should also use a suitable color temperature for work, instead of the usual warm feeling. We designed all the pendant lamps and bookshelves that shaped the bookstore’s personality and chose a classic form — also an anonymous form — with a long history of drawing tables and stools. We envisioned the space filled with picture albums, drawings, and models that could withstand some messiness.

The renovation project of the Goethe-Institut in Bogota is rooted in the search for a place that would allow the public to experience more than just the teaching of the German language. How can diverse forms of cultural exchange be brought together in one place? How can simultaneity be activated amidst difference? How can the intensity of meeting days be revived? How can everyday spaces be established for cooperation?