Designed by Dominique Coulon & Associés, the new Pierre Bottero media library and public park has been created from a historic “Hôtel particulier” originally built in 1642.
Located in Pélissanne, an ancient fortified city in the heart of Provence, France, the project shifts between two eras and two dimensions: the verticality of the rehabilitated volume of the existing building and the horizontality of the extension. This dialogue is embodied in the contrast between the apparent homogeneity of the facades and the different shades of local materials used, such as ocher and Rognes stone.
The classical spatial structure of interconnecting rooms was preserved in the existing building, which establishes a simple internal organization of the media library. The extension, meanwhile, displays large, flexible consultation spaces on two floors. The ground level opens widely into the park and allows visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape. The upper level offers a different atmosphere as it propels the visitor into the crown of a plane tree. Preservation efforts guided the curved shape of the extension.
An adjacent building connects the town hall square and the park has been renovated into a passage that links different poles within a global and open urban system. The passage is materialized here by a totally empty space bathed in natural light. The existing floors, doors, and windows were removed and the tiles on the roof were replaced with glass tiles.
The park facade was maintained as is with its semi-circular porte-cochere. On the town hall side, the facade is open over its entire width, framing the park.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Oct 3, 2019
2019 Cultural Facility Giants Report: New libraries are all about community
The future of libraries is less about being quiet and more about hands-on learning and face-to-face interactions. This and more cultural sector trends from BD+C's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Libraries | Oct 2, 2019
Temple University’s Charles Library includes a ‘BookBot’ storage and retrieval system
The project was designed by Stantec and Snøhetta.
Libraries | Sep 26, 2019
Hunters Point Library brings rooftop reading garden, community-devoted space to the Long Island City waterfront
Steven Holl Architects designed the building.
Libraries | Sep 18, 2019
The $115 million renovation of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library completes
Beyer Blinder Belle led the project.
Libraries | Apr 4, 2019
AIA awards six projects with the 2019 AIA/ALA Library Building Award
The AIA/ALA Library Building Award is the only award that recognizes entire library structures and all aspects of their design.
Mixed-Use | Feb 19, 2019
Sunset Library in Brooklyn will be capped with 50 affordable residences
Magnusson Architecture and Planning is designing the facility.
Libraries | Feb 10, 2019
New library branch in San Diego opens with its community’s learning and working traits in mind
It features larger gathering spaces and more technology than its predecessor.
Libraries | Jan 18, 2019
Chicago’s newest library branch preserves the old and ushers in the new
Its exterior design reflects the neighborhood’s industrial history, while its interior fosters community and shared learning.
Libraries | Oct 16, 2018
Earthquake-resistant library rises in Christchurch, New Zealand
Less than a decade ago, the city was devastated by four major earthquakes.
Libraries | Jun 1, 2018
New library offers a one-stop shop for what society is craving: hands-on learning
Beyond lending books and DVDs, the Elkridge (Md.) branch library loans household tools like ladders, wheelbarrows, and sewing machines.