









Share to
Bibliothèque et centre communautaire de Marieville
By : Épigraphe
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 14th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Other categories in architecture / Concept in architecture : Gold Certification
The Marieville Library and Community Center is a proposal to build the city’s a new learning and exchange venue. Located at the heart of Marieville, within a park surrounded by the local high school and historic church, the project hovers over the whole depth of the site, a modest ground floor pavilion inviting users to rise into the sweeping gesture of the library above.
At the heart of the project, tying the two disparate programs together, is a sculpted staircase where people can read, watch concerts, attend lectures, or simply look out to the park. This modern agora forms a Third Place, an informal and flexible catalyst for learning and exchange of ideas.
In the library, lines are blurred between stack and furniture, offering a playful and varied environment for learning and working. A timber ceiling, coffered for strength and acoustics, rests weightlessly on slender white columns unifying the different zones below. The gently curving façade is in constant dialogue with the park outside, filtering light through the tree canopy and abstracted patterns on the glass, reflecting the park back to the town itself.
On the narrow site, no space is wasted - all serving multiple functions. Community programs on the ground floor can spill out on all sides. The sheltered parking lot and rear alley are easily converted to pedestrian-friendly event spaces. Multipurpose rooms open inwards and outwards in flexible configurations to suit the event’s needs during any season.
Collaboration
Architect : Épigraphe