Tereza Komárková - Library of Martin Kabátník in Litomyšl
atelier: prof. Ing.arch. Zdeněk Fránek / assistant: Ing.arch. Radek Suchánek, Ph.D.
The existing library is located in the building of the old town hall right in the center of Litomyšl on Smetanovo Square. Since it is currently in a very unsatisfactory technical and operational state, there is an opportunity to relocate it to a new place designed according to its needs.
The plot of the House of the Bear in the southern corner of the main square has been closed to the public for several decades, although this was not always the case in the past. Utilizing this space, its passages, and buildings for a construction intended for the public is an opportunity to reconnect the square with Bělidla, near which the bus station is now located. The land deviates from the local classic longitudinal development. The reason is its corner location in the square, where the facade of the House of the Bear presents itself as one of the typically elongated houses. However, in the direction of Bělidla, the facade of the former armory building is three times longer than the House of the Bear, consequently, the internal atrium also expands in this place. This creates a relatively generous space in the center of Litomyšl with the potential to become a new route on the existing map. Making the plot and the building accessible has become the guiding idea. Thus, the library is not just a destination but a part of the everyday journey to another goal. Paradoxically, it may also appeal to groups of people who would not otherwise visit it.
Houses, like books, are made up of individual chapters. They can layer, chronologically deviate, overlap, and complement one another. Some chapters in a book simply are missing, just as in architecture we can omit-demolish-forget. The chapter that will no longer be readable in the construction of the library consists of smaller additions characterized as sheds and storages. These are replaced in the design by a new structure made of exposed concrete. Only the building of the former rifle factory and the House of the Bear are retained, which I connect and unify with the new construction. The task was to not utilize the House of the Bear for the needs of the design, which became the reason for placing the operation of the library in the armory. The most important part of the library from the visitor's perspective is located in the new building encircling the atrium. The new is acknowledged, the old is preserved.
The plot of the House of the Bear in the southern corner of the main square has been closed to the public for several decades, although this was not always the case in the past. Utilizing this space, its passages, and buildings for a construction intended for the public is an opportunity to reconnect the square with Bělidla, near which the bus station is now located. The land deviates from the local classic longitudinal development. The reason is its corner location in the square, where the facade of the House of the Bear presents itself as one of the typically elongated houses. However, in the direction of Bělidla, the facade of the former armory building is three times longer than the House of the Bear, consequently, the internal atrium also expands in this place. This creates a relatively generous space in the center of Litomyšl with the potential to become a new route on the existing map. Making the plot and the building accessible has become the guiding idea. Thus, the library is not just a destination but a part of the everyday journey to another goal. Paradoxically, it may also appeal to groups of people who would not otherwise visit it.
Houses, like books, are made up of individual chapters. They can layer, chronologically deviate, overlap, and complement one another. Some chapters in a book simply are missing, just as in architecture we can omit-demolish-forget. The chapter that will no longer be readable in the construction of the library consists of smaller additions characterized as sheds and storages. These are replaced in the design by a new structure made of exposed concrete. Only the building of the former rifle factory and the House of the Bear are retained, which I connect and unify with the new construction. The task was to not utilize the House of the Bear for the needs of the design, which became the reason for placing the operation of the library in the armory. The most important part of the library from the visitor's perspective is located in the new building encircling the atrium. The new is acknowledged, the old is preserved.
The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.
0 comments
add comment
