Carles Rahola Library

In the centre of the Spanish city of Girona stands a striking building surrounded by tall residential blocks. Its abstract form reflects its public character and sets it apart from the neighbouring buildings: the Carles Rahola Public Library, named after a Catalan historian and writer.

The ground floor houses a children's library and various rooms for community activities. The two upper floors contain reading rooms organised by subject area. The administrative areas are located in the basement and are only accessible to staff. A large open staircase in the entrance area connects the three public levels. The interior of the library is grouped around three courtyards.

The most important feature of the square building is light in its various forms. The façade is almost entirely clad in sandblasted U-glass, which floods the rooms with filtered light that is particularly pleasant for reading. This effect is guaranteed by the velvety surface of LINIT^®EcoGlass “solar”. Its elegant appearance meets even the highest aesthetic standards and, when illuminated from within, makes the library shine like an oversized urban lamp, symbolising the light of knowledge at the service of society.