Mediatheque Villeurbanne

La Maison du Livre Villeurbanne

Mediatheque Villeurbanne
Architect: Mario Botta
Address: 247 cours Emile Zola, Villeurbanne, Lyon, France
Investor:Město Villeurbanne
Contest:1984
Completion:1986-87
Area:5100 m2


The idea from the outset was to construct a central element of reference. And this corresponds to the necessity the architect feels to find a 'backbone' in every project, so that people entering the building will have a chance to orient themselves. It could be a shaft of light or a structural element. The idea for the competition was to create a house made of empty space within the solid building, with connecting stairs winding around the void. Then, little by little, Botta arrived at the final solution, perhaps less complex, but maybe also better considering the building's relatively small dimensions. There are no direct references to illuminist or neoclassical architecture. This space was born more of an intuition of light, of static reasoning - but also of agreements with the fire department, who forced the architect to put the tempered glass around the central void.
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