‘public library’ by EXIT architects, vallecas, spain all images © miguel de guzmán, pablo álvarez couso, EXIT architects all images courtesy of EXIT architects

spanish practice EXIT architects have envisioned a ‘public library’ for the city of vallecas, spain which metaphorically represents the cover and contents of a book. wrapped in an enigmatic cover to attract visitors, a reveal within the facade gives onlookers glimpses of the inside without immediately revealing the entire contents. surrounding with a pedestrian boulevard in a residential district, visually lifted by a band of columns windows, the elevated opaque mass contains four storeys of program creating a dense and compact form. three entrances at different sides of the site lead to a main hall.

above the general lobby, each successive level contains children / teen content, periodicals, the general collection and meeting rooms. six circular courtyards encased with glass vertically pierce the volume, unifying the building in section and creating reading areas with views to the sky. the tubular voids introduce natural daylight throughout the open floor plans.  

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas exterior

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas one of the entrances

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas circular courtyard pieces the building volume above one of the entrances

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas view into main hall from outside

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas main hall

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas stairs to the four storeys of the library’s areas

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas stairs

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas circular courtyard pierces to first floor

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas upward view to the sky through courtyard

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas the clusters of light wells illuminate the open floor plan from the center

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas reading areas are illuminated with the glass courtyards

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas perimeter lighting and corridor

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas exterior during the day

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas facade detail

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas during construction

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas site plan

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas floor plan / level 0

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas floor plan / level 1

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas floor plan / level 2

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas floor plan / level -1

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas section

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas elevation

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas elevation

EXIT architects: public library, vallecas elevation

project info:

project: public library “luis martín santos” architects: EXIT architects – ibán carpintero / mario sanjuán / ángel sevillano client: madrid regional government built area: 3.691 m2 budget: 4.297.945 euros project date: 2003 completion: 2007 technical architects: jose antonio alonso / alberto palencia mechanical consultants: jg ingenieros. juan antonio posadas structural consultants: nb 35. alberto lópez nafria general contractor: pecsa photographs: miguel de guzmán, pablo álvarez couso, EXIT architects