Vennesla library and cultural center
Natural lighting, use of wood, vertical sun shading, construction and material resource efficiency: these are all crucial elements of the new project by
The Vennesla library is a a multi-level public facility comprising a library, a café, study places and social areas. The design is a direct result of the synergy of two structures- a community house and learning centre. Supporting the idea of an inviting public space the structure combines multiple spatial interfaces visible in the interior and from the exterior. The building is easily accessible from the main city square, which encourages community interaction and knits together the existing urban fabric.
This was achieved with the use of a large glass facade and a roofed arcade providing a protected outdoor seating area.
In this project Helen & Hard developed a rib concept to create useable hybrid structures. The whole library consists of 27 ribs that form the geometry of the roof and shape the personal study zones nestled along the perimeters of the open space. Each rib consists of a timber beam and column, acoustic absorbents, bent glass panes, and integrated reading niches and shelves. The gradually shifting shapes of the ribs are generated through the adaptation of the two adjacent buildings to the functional demands for the different compartments of the library.
For example, at the main entrance, the rib forms the loggia which spans through the width of the entire square. A main intention has also been to reduce the energy need for all three buildings through the infill concept and the use of high standard energy saving solutions in all new parts. The library is a “low-energy” building, defined as class “A” in the Norwegian energy-use definition system. The use of wood is maximized. All ribs, inner and outer walls, elevator shaft, slabs, and partially roof, are made in gluelam wood.
Helen & Hard was founded in 1996 library Norwegian by architects Siv Helene Stangeland and Reinhard Kropf. Today, the company has a youthful staff of 20 drawn from 8 different countries. Their aim is to creatively engage with sustainability, not limited to the design of spaces, moving away from a solely technical and anthropocentric view, and allowing the project to unfold in relation to its physical, social, cultural and economic context.
