New construction and interiors
Anna Birra, Alessia Campana
The project aims to bring together the small public library and the elementary school library, creating a meeting place for the community of Foiana. In synergy with the school and the mixed-use gym, the intention was to establish an institutional and recreational hub. The new building is positioned adjacent to the school and the sports center, maintaining a visual dialogue with the local church and the village center. The library is conceived not only as a gathering place, but as a large container of knowledge. The building’s form draws inspiration from traditional rural constructions, reinterpreted to address the constraints of the site, such as the existing school and the two ventilation shafts of the underground floors. The result is a simple volume with introspective spaces and large openings placed strategically, reminiscent of rural storage structures. The space between the school and the library is intentionally left “empty” to ensure natural lighting for both buildings. It also incorporates the existing ventilation shafts, extending their chimneys above the roofline. The pitched roof creates interior spaces that gradually rise as one moves through the library. The floor plan expands along its progression, offering areas dedicated to the entrance and information, followed sequentially by spaces for adults, reading areas for teenagers, and consultation zones for children. The final, more spacious area opening toward the sports field allows for small events and group activities. The exterior references rural architecture by translating wooden slats into exposed reinforced-concrete façades. The formwork for the prefabricated colored concrete elements is made using matrices of rough wooden boards, while the concrete’s tone reflects local hues, particularly those of the church’s bell tower. This dialogue between the two public buildings—the church and the library—creates a harmonious connection with the surrounding context.