Winning the international competition, Kengo Kuma and Associates, in collaboration with the Polish studio Schick Architekci, has unveiled the design of the new municipal and regional library in Rzeszów, Poland. A fluid, spiral-shaped volume titled “Vortex of Words” integrates cultural, educational, and social functions within an ecological framework.
The Vortex of Words: Strategic Urban Context
The proposal is strategically planned and located in a city that serves as a vital transport node near the Ukrainian border and a center for the global aviation industry. It was awarded first prize in a competition organized by the Rzeszów City Hall and the Association of Polish Architects (SARP), showcasing a hybrid structural system of timber and steel.
As the capital of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, the city of nearly 200,000 residents hosts the library on Józef Piłsudski Avenue, a primary urban artery. The design connects with the community, bridging the gap from the transit-oriented zone to a pedestrian-friendly public realm. The design responds to the existing context by establishing a green buffer, not just as an aesthetic element but also as a psychological and acoustic transition zone.
Spatial Layout: The Experience of the Vortex
The layout adopts universal design principles, ensuring that the facility remains an inclusive space for the community. Clutter-free passages connect all functional spaces, supported by textured paving, tactile maps, Braille signage, and induction loops. The highly talked-about Kengo Kuma philosophy of Negative Architecture is directly applied to the Vortex of Words by dissolving the boundaries of the building.
The well-lit reading rooms balance concentration with accessibility. Multi-level platforms serve as natural meeting places, allowing for a variety of work and rest styles. Beyond library functions, the proposal includes an expanded event zone for cultural and artistic expression.
Concert Hall: The concert hall features a restrained architectural language with timber finishes that mimic the interior of an instrument. Its geometry is designed to focus attention on the stage, providing an immersive acoustic experience for music.
Multipurpose Hall: This flexible space is characterized by a rhythmic ceiling and vertical wooden elements. It is designed to accommodate workshops, exhibitions, and cultural meetings, adapting to the changing needs of the Rzeszów community.
Public Viewing Terrace: A glazed opening on the upper levels leads to a panoramic terrace that provides views of the city skyline, serving as a space for relaxation and civic engagement.
The architectural language relates to the structure and creates a medium for human experience and natural connection. The use of natural materials, timber, and spiral geometry allows the volume to ascend gradually, creating a series of stepped platforms that relate more closely to the human scale than a monolithic block. The design seeks to deliver a light-filled and warm cultural space that feels both modern and rooted in the material culture of the region. The project team emphasizes that the architecture of Vortex of Words flows, breathes, and invites movement.
Blending Tradition and Technology
The library architecture is designed as an experience of light and organic lines, using timber as the primary material. The structural design utilizes layered slabs integrating HVAC channels and reinforcement. The design features two 450 mm slabs to form a 900 mm-deep section capable of spanning six meters. This hybrid approach allows the lightness and warmth of wood to be the dominant interior aesthetic while maintaining the structural rigidity required for a multi-story public library.
The exterior skin is as innovative as its skeleton, crafted from glass panels with an embedded champagne-toned metal mesh. This mesh provides passive shading, reducing heat gain from sunlight while maintaining interior transparency. It gives a metallic glow during the day, and at night, it becomes translucent, revealing internal activities to the city.
Photo Credits: ©︎ KinCreatives/Kengo Kuma and Associates
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