Youth Library Esztergom

The goal was to create an institution that, in addition to meeting the functional expectations of a library, would also serve as an attractive place for young people to spend their free time. The facility consists of two building sections. On the side facing the Kis Duna promenade stands the reading tower, while closer to Széchenyi Square is the auditorium. The two units are separated, yet they clearly belong together. This sense of unity is reinforced by the garden, which can be understood both as the library’s inner courtyard and, thanks to its accessibility, as a public park. When designing the building’s structure, the greatest emphasis was placed on open spaces, prompted by the question that arose during the planning process: “How does the spirit of our age relate to libraries and their function?” By grouping the service rooms into an inner core and arranging the bookshelves around this core in the tower, the result is a building full of possibilities.