Vilnius University Library | Paleko Architects Studio

Designed by Paleko Arch Studija, The library is on the outskirts of Vilnius. A relatively quiet and leafy location of the existing university campus is about to change significantly. In upcoming years, a new agglomeration of education facilities will emerge here. The library is located near the pinewood, at the intersection of the main pedestrian path and a new access road.
The neighborhood of the forest has inspired a spatial conception of the library – cozy inside spaces and their linkage with nature.

photography by © Raimondas Urbakavicius

An intimate amphitheater-plaza is welcoming a visitor. A glazed entrance hall is a continuation of the plaza space. The same as the outside, it has a concrete floor and terracotta facades. The ground floor, which functions as a central circulation space, also includes a conference hall, cafeteria, periodicals-reading room with an open-air terrace.

As walking further, one is entering reading rooms located on several floors which are connected by an atrium, focusing the view to the forest. Two glazed facades face the wood and illuminate the trees at night. At the daytime, the trees are sunlit and become a visual part of the interior. The spaces are diverse and easily transformed. In the interior, white color dominates and exposes books as well as people.

photography by © Raimondas Urbakavicius

We believe that Vilnius University library should radiate an emotional charge because it is a place of non-material creativity and spirituality. Therefore, we have chosen the scenery of expressively and unpredictably varying silhouettes as the main architectural language. The volumes are clad with white terracotta elements.

The facades are arranged so that all joints and gaps are horizontal and run parallelly around the building despite different angles of lean surfaces. Rooms are naturally ventilated via window openings. Solid south-side partitions hide people and books from direct sun and overheating.

photography by © Raimondas Urbakavicius

Project Info:
Architects: Paleko Arch Studija
Project Year: 2012
Project Area: 13800.0 sqm
Photographs: Raimondas Urbakavicius
Project Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Architect in Charge: Rolandas palekas, Bartas Puzonas, Alma Palekiene, Petras Isora, Matas Siupsinskas, Monika Zemlickaite, Lina Suziedelyte, Aidas Barzda, Jurga Garsvaite, Vilmantas Bavarskis.
Projevt Name: Vilnius University Library