Text details provided by architects. Our proposal for expansion and renewal of Gabrielle-Roy library is aimed at spreading public functions throughout the building to live at its various levels. On each floor, in the existing building and its expansion, a new interface is proposed with collection and city. Library experience becomes a rich route between projection and introvertity.
Located in the center of a vibrant cultural and economic district, the St.-Roch neighborhood, the Gabriel-Roy Library is a diverse and dynamic community home of users, which has greatly increased during previous years.
Keeping this unique reality in mind, the relationship of the neighborhood becomes a fundamental aspect of this project. This relationship is reinforced by important urban and architectural gestures that will benefit both the institution and the surrounding community. On the ground floor, a generous external location gives the library an undeniably urban character. In addition, the physical and visual continuity to be ensured with adjacent public places enhances the opportunity of exchange between the library and its neighborhood. Considered as a whole, the surface of the public place and library forms a rich urban environment for both visitors and local community.
On the ground floor, users will use a collection dedicated to various public functions (such as reception, a kitchen for Pak workshops, and a small amphitheater) and children and civil life (including newspapers and periods). Surface is dedicated to urban life, community activities and families. Alternatively, levels 01 and 03 are more focused on reading and learning. Collections related to literature, history, philosophy, geography, science and technology are distributed around the atrium to maximize the influx of natural light and provide views of uplift to users. At these levels, a fried glass envelope creates a diaphenus screen that filters the sunlight and ensures an environment that is favorable for learning. Like the surface, Level 02 has a public character that reinforces its obvious glass envelopes and specific mesh roof. The collections located at this stage mainly focus on music, cinema, art and travel.
With the main amphitheater, users will have access to a music studio and multiple practice rooms, a launch room, a fab lab and an art workshop. This rich program will allow the library to move from a quiet store of books to move to become a real social center, a true ‘third place’ that is adapted to its diverse and constantly changing communities.
