Municipal Library "Ana María Matute" in Carabanchel

Memory of project

The library is built in a wonderful plot in a inner limit of the city, on the cornice formed by the graveyards of San Isidro and Sta. María close to the Manzanares river. The plot has a steep slope north oriented without building obstruction in this direction, so we have a wonderful view of Madrid's skyline from the historic centre to the mountains. The place is who is taking the master decisions about geometry and how is open and is connected to the exterior. This is a functional building, transparent, the library activity is seen from the street and the readers can take part of the city, It has a short material palette and shows directly how everything is built, facilities tracing is always seen. The romantic idea of the library is represented by the main reading room wide open to the landscape.

Building.- Volume gets from a cast process from a massive element created from the plot and urban regulations. Three main cuts create the functional and structural scheme of the building and delimit the inner court. Each cut create a structural plane, those that need to be transparent (glass) the wall structure is replaced by a steel truss. Remaining volume is removed making terraces following terrain slope. Second operation cuts horizontally the building, a great concrete basement emerge from the terrain and a big metallic box over it (the reading room).

Site.- Inner urban limit on the border of the Carabanchel district. Close to the Manzanares river and slightly high, is close to the historic graveyards of San Isidro and Sta María on a 1600 sqm plot,  steep slope (12m) oriented north. Road access is only possible from the bottom part. Pedestrian access from the district is in the top, close to the district centre and most of the local population. Local regulations  arrange and create limits to the possible solid of the library.

Programme.- Library typology is strictly defined by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid (town council): Functional programme for a 2,500sqm library, tested in many libraries of the city. Design principles: flexibility, open spaces, views inside-outside, and adjustment to the functional programme.

Structure.- Building and structure are merged so it´s not possible to detach one from another. Structure as a expressive element of the building, it shows how works literally. Structure doesn't only represents efficiency and economy values: is architecture in itself. Facilities are shown inside the library, showing a naked building and providing a low-cost maintenance. Inside we use a short and industrial material palette: concrete, glass, metal and bamboo wood as a warm counterpoint.

Construction.- Foundations.- Concrete cast-in place piles and slab foundation. Structure.- Concrete wall and slabs from -2 level to 0. Steel frame with unidirectional composite slab on upper levels from +1 to +3.

Façades.- Structural concrete walls with aluminium glass windows. Upper box: Various layers with aluminium composite panel on the exterior leaf. Courtain walls with steel or aluminium structure. Acoustic and solar control high quality glass on exterior windows and inner walls.

Roofs.- Terraces: green roof with sedum plantations and ipe wood pavement on terrace. Double roof on top, exterior layer of aluminium composite panel allowing solar control. Inside and protected is the facilities machinery.

Inside.- Naked structural elements or plasterboard finish when thermal insulation is required. Bamboo wood in stairs and multipurpose room as warm counterpoint. Fixed furniture.- Fixed counters made of bamboo wood with fenolic board elements, it's also used in bathrooms with black granite.

Facilities.- The buildings has a flexible facilities network designed in search of low maintenance. All the ceiling fixtures are surface mounted with a visible layout. Embedded in pavement there is a 2,4x 2,4m  pipe mesh with accessible nodes, it's used for data and electrical installation. Linear ceiling elements are a complex system with water supply, drainage, electrical, fire protection, climate and lighting systems placed in different layers. Floor and ceiling are interconnected assuming possible changes in the building use in future years.

Presence of facilities and it's layout and design is part of the architecture and the inner image of the library. Various elements have been incorporated in search of a better efficiency an sustainability like water recycling, green roofs, re-use of rain water, double deck roofs.

Lighting.- Lighting design layout is linked to room architecture and there is a special care in night views of the building from outside. Linear fluorescent lamps are mainly used with complementary façade led lamps.

Flooring.- Red natural rubber is used in most of the building looking for a better sound condition, reducing impact noise and increasing surface absorption. Foyer and level 0 are paved with a black industrial continuous pavement, in-situ built, with a harder finish.

Outside belongs to the street so we use a coloured flagstone with different sizes and patterns. Exterior terrace is part of the garden so we use ipe wood in pedestrian areas and benches. It's elevated from the slab allowing inner ventilation and solar protection. Parking and staff areas has another kind of materials with industrial character: steel perforated sheets, terrazzo, concrete continuous pavements, steel and concrete.

Main entrance.- As a singular element there is a wood canopy in laminated pine treated for outdoor use. Main door is integrated and hide when open.

Text: RSP arquitectos.