PROJECT OF THE KSIĄŻNICA STARGARDZKA NOMINATED FOR THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS OF IRELAND AWARD
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Award is a prestigious accolade given annually for outstanding achievements in architecture. The award aims to promote excellence in architectural design both in Ireland and internationally. It is recognized as one of the highest honors in the industry, celebrating innovative and influential architectural projects.
KSIĄŻNICA STARGARDZKA ON THE NOMINEE LIST
Our renovation project of the Książnica Stargardzka has been recognized by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and has been nominated for the 2023 Project of the Year award. We are proud that our work has been acknowledged on such a prestigious stage, especially as we are the only representatives from Poland in this competition, contending with firms from all over the world.
INSPIRATION FROM IRELAND
Our architectural firm, BiASTUDIO, has frequently emphasized that the Książnica Stargardzka project embodies elements of the Irish approach to architecture. Irish architects have gained international recognition in the last two decades, and their design philosophy has also inspired us. Working in Ireland, we learned to appreciate values that have gradually been incorporated into projects in Poland.
EXCEPTIONAL FEATURES OF THE PROJECT
The Książnica Stargardzka project stands out for its use of local and low-emission materials, as well as solutions for the visually impaired, such as contrasting handles and sanitary devices, and accessible library systems. We also prioritized acoustics and uniform lighting, standards commonly observed in Ireland but introduced in Poland with some delay. The “renew – reuse – recycle” concept was key to our design, which we believe also caught the jury’s attention.
EXCEPTIONAL FEATURES OF THE PROJECT
The Książnica Stargardzka project stands out for its use of local and low-emission materials, as well as solutions for the visually impaired, such as contrasting handles and sanitary devices, and accessible library systems. We also prioritized acoustics and uniform lighting, standards commonly observed in Ireland but introduced in Poland with some delay. The “renew – reuse – recycle” concept was key to our design, which we believe also caught the jury’s attention.
RENOVATION COMBINING HISTORY WITH MODERNITY
The Książnica Stargardzka combines a Gothic tenement house and a modernist pavilion from the 1970s. The Gothic tenement, known as Rohleder’s House, is picturesquely situated by the city walls. After war damages, a modernist pavilion was added in the 1970s. Our goal was to highlight the Gothic tenement’s historical features, expose the modernist pavilion’s structure, and integrate a central foyer in the connector between the buildings.
DETAILS AND INTERIORS
The facade was designed with vertical louvers that unify the two contrasting structures. The connector’s color scheme refers to Pomeranian brick modernism, and the vertical divisions add lightness to the large volume housing a significant library collection. Despite the gentle and conservation-focused approach in the interiors, we complemented the space with bold forms. Our architectural office specializes in public utility interiors, so the careful selection of natural materials and architectural purity of textures were priorities for us. Brickwork, raw concrete columns, and green details create a unique space that is both functional and aesthetic.
NEW LIFE FOR THE KSIĄŻNICA
Following the renovation, the Książnica Stargardzka offers a spacious lending area, designated sections for youth and children, a media library, and a cozy reading room. A key element of the project was the entrance halls, designed to be open, bright, and inviting. The main foyer also provides space for thematic exhibitions.
BIASTUDIO AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL RENOVATION
The building was reopened in September 2023, exactly 50 years after the post-war reconstruction was completed. We are proud of this project and the team we managed to build. We continue to carry out numerous projects in commercial and public utility architecture and interiors, implementing and developing the values and design methods we learned in Ireland.
PROJECT AUTHORS
The main authors of the project, besides Gaweł Biedunkiewicz, were also Marcelina Kuźniar and Karolina Prałat.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS! CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE COMPETITION PAGE AND VOTE FOR OUR PROJECT OF THE KSIĄŻNICA STARGARDZKA.