The encounter of architecture with design arose during a competition for the Library of the Order of Nurses in Coimbra. The site lacked a space for consultation and study – these were the only constraints on the project.  The client intended to give a new space to the city, as the head of nursing at the national level. It was also planned an exterior garden that would create a promenade between the street and the library. The garden area didn't got build. It would work as a meditative pausing place. 

So, the library got divided into two zones: a study and an archive area. The entire space was carefully thorough and, each furniture piece was designed in detail, which include the lighting features essential to enhancing the experience of the user. Since there were no aesthetic constraints, the choice of material had its focus on living, tenuous and long-spam materials. The concern was to create a captivating, cosy and most important, getting a pleasurable spatial identity. As it is a small library, the principles resided on using transparency to create depth, separation and unit  - making both zones dialoguing in a subtle way, maintaining their individuality and their functions independent. The consultation area is located in the centre, with long shelves to maximize space and a pair of seats to consult books. Around, making the most use of natural light is the study area with tables and lighting for the library, which runs 24 hours a day.

Architect

Tiago Ferreirinho | Ottomia

Collaboration

Sofia Soares arq

Project

An archive into a library

Location

Av. Bissaya Barreto | Coimbra, Portugal

Year

2018 - 2019

Client

Order of Nurses - Section Regional Center

Concept

Use transparency as spatial materiality