Bibliotheque Multimedia
The Bibliothèque Multimédia à Vocation Régionale (BMVR) is located at the tip of the peninsula, a focal point of the new development in Caen, northern France. The 13,000 square meter public library is shaped by four protruding wings that point towards four of the city’s landmarks: l’Abbaye aux Hommes, l’Abbaye aux Dames, the train station to the south and a new urban development to the west, becoming a symbolic center for the city.
Courtesy of OMA
The building is shaped as an “X” and its layout aids users in navigating the library’s 150,000 volumes by assigning each wing to its own discipline – arts to the northeast, science and technology to the northwest, humanities to the southeast and literature to the southwest. In the exterior spaces created by these intersecting reading rooms, the library interacts with its surroundings, opening up to a park, pedestrian pathway and waterfront plaza.
Courtesy of OMA
“The design of the future BMVR Caen meets the Haute Qualité Environnementale, a standard for sustainable building in France. The sustainable approach responds to local climactic conditions to ensure energy efficiency. Shallow floor plans maximise available natural light, creating the ideal reading environment crucial to a library“, described OMA.
Courtesy of OMA
Project Information:
Architect : OMA
Location : Caen, France
Project Year : 2010 – Ongoing
Project Area : 20.700 square meters
Associate : Clément Blanchet
Project Manager : Dirk Peters, Francisco Martinez
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