Baiona Public Library

Baiona / Spai

n

For Murado & Elvira Architects, interaction and participatio

n

are a key quality that they wish their buildings to inspire. This

ethos has found its perfect home in their design for the Baiona

Public Library, a space that aims to help promote creativity. Th

e

Public Library and Historic Archive is located at the forme

r

Sancti Spiritus Hospital, in a building that has stood since th

e

17th century, and the challenge for the architects was to create

an interior that could be slotted into this historic building with

the minimum of disruption

.

The design uses a skin of maple wood to create walls, floors an

d

ceilings, with a playful geometry developed from the original

space’s irregular shape. Curved walls integrate shelving, an

d

conceal openings to hidden spaces behind, such as a wardrobe

and a puppet theatre, all the while drawing the attention bac

k

towards the central courtyard, which brings light into the space.

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