Currently featured in the exhibition Best European Architecture, the building is a branch of Barcelona’s municipal library system. In 2024, SUMA studio, which designed the library, received the EUmies Awards’ Emerging Architects prize. The jury praised the functional and inviting interior, as well as the architects’ creative use of a previously unremarkable lot. Once a neglected corner of a working-class neighborhood with narrow sidewalks, a police station, and a parking lot, the space has been transformed into a new civic and cultural landmark. “Our task was to turn this uninspiring space into a community focal point,” Sevillano shared during an Urban Talks lecture.

Today, the rectangular library with tree-lined setbacks is more than a cultural center; it’s a pedestrian corridor and community gathering spot. The shaded outdoor area hosts events like live concerts and encourages social interactions. “We wanted locals to feel the library was theirs. The outdoor passageway serves as a playground, a music jam space, and a meeting area. Anyone can grab a chair and join in,” Sevillano said. Large sliding windows further connect the exterior with the interior during pleasant weather. According to Sevillano, residents are proud of their new library. “One elderly woman expressed it best at our open house: ‘What did I do to deserve this beauty?’”

The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

SUMA, a relatively young architectural studio, approaches projects through a holistic philosophy. Beyond the building’s basic function, they study user behavior and evolving societal needs. The library took seven years to complete. “We asked ourselves: ‘If everything is online, why come to a library?’ Platforms like Google Books, Facebook, and Twitter challenge traditional ideas of physical space. Libraries today must be more than knowledge temples—they should be ecosystems that offer a blend of experiences,” Sevillano explained.

The abundance of digital information pushed the architects to think beyond books. They explored related activities and experiences that could draw people to the library. “We asked questions like, is a stand-up comedy video more engaging than a live show? And what happens if we put a book on stage?” Sevillano said. Inspired by libraries across Europe and changing user behaviors, the result is a “public living room.” In addition to study rooms and book loans, the space fosters discussions, lectures, and public readings.

Sevillano firmly believes libraries remain essential public spaces and catalysts for social change. However, their use is evolving. To attract more visitors, libraries must be dynamic and engaging. The building’s form, inspired by a stack of books, and its façade, resembling open pages, reflect this philosophy. Above the entrance, quotes from Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez—who spent seven years in Barcelona—welcome visitors. Márquez once called the city the only place where he could breathe freely.

Four viewing terraces punctuate the library’s white exterior. These openings bring the cozy wooden interior into dialogue with the surrounding urban environment. “Libraries aren’t just containers for activities. They’re complex ecosystems. Every element—structure, façade, furnishings—is interconnected. To achieve synergy, we had to consider factors like light, climate, and even optical effects,” Sevillano added.

A Living Room for Knowledge Sharing

The library’s five levels are divided into distinct zones: the Agora, the Forum of Ideas, the News Bazaar, the Reading Palace, and the Spiral of Encounters. Each zone is architecturally and functionally linked. The wooden-panel structure, crafted with invisible joints, holds the building together like a giant, cohesive sculpture.

The Agora, located at street level, acts as a showcase, inviting the public inside through various activities—from social gatherings to exhibitions and concerts. Inside, the Forum of Ideas is a large, open hall designed to handle foot traffic and noise. It houses a bookstore, a reading circle, and gathering spaces for community groups. “Long curtains divide the space to create quieter, more intimate zones,” Sevillano explained. This flexible layout allows multiple activities to occur simultaneously, even intense study sessions. The lower level also includes a courtyard, garden, auditorium, and a broadcasting studio for Radio Maconda.

A spiral staircase connects all five floors and serves as a central meeting point. The News Bazaar and Forum of Ideas on the first floor facilitate conversations. The second floor features a children’s library and kiosk, while the third hosts a reading boutique with events and public readings. The top two floors offer quiet study spaces. “We wanted the design to mimic different reading experiences, from home to the park. We studied all possible ways of consuming information and recreated them here. The result is a palace, a public living room with a homely atmosphere,” Sevillano said. The interior combines long tables, armchairs, sofas, and cozy reading nooks.

Crafting with Wood

The library holds a LEED Gold certification for sustainability. Its atrium acts as a solar chimney, bringing natural light indoors. The white exterior is made from recycled blinds coated in resin and fiberglass, shielding the interior from the sun while allowing daylight in. Solar panels on the roof and a rainwater recycling system further enhance sustainability.

SUMA prioritized low-emission materials. The core structure uses wooden panels, making the building much lighter than concrete. “We treated the wooden structure like large-scale cabinetry. Similar to carpenters, we focused on the wood’s grain, joint connections, and structural details. It’s like building a cabinet with massive laminated panels and screws,” Sevillano explained.

In 2023, the library received the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) award for the world’s best library. The following year, it earned the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture—Mies van der Rohe Award’s Emerging Architects category recognition.