La Ginesta library, Begues

The new cultural equipment of Begues, a village in the surroundings of Barcelona, has been designed by Calderón Folch Sarsanedas architecture studio as a 3-in-1 which emphasizes the wonderful landscape values of the site.

A building with three different purposes: a theatre for 350 audients, a 1.260m2 public library (La Ginesta) and a community centre (El Roure), hosts a great amount of different activities and services.

A big old oak which had to be preserved gives the name to the building (Roure is oak in Catalan). The site, with a rather triangular shape, is a shore of the stream meander with the tree as a landmark, and it works as an advantage for the interiors, gaining continuous natural light.

This is the highlight of the library, oriented to extract maximum advantage to light to make it the most comfortable for the users. To equip it Green chairs designed by Javier Mariscal have been used, and also Riga waste bins and Hulot coat stands designed by Joan Gaspar.

El Roure has been nominee to Mies van der Rohe Award 2015.

Photography: Meritxell Arjalaguer, Calderon Folch Sarsanedas