Library of G. Petkevičaitė-Bitė

About object:

A public library of Panevežys city did not go any more physically into the previous building, and its technical conditions did not meet standards determined for print storage. Therefore a new place was chosen – two historic buildings, which were intended for reconstruction. Upon review of the program, the plans were adjusted: it was decided to build two more blocks, which together with the historic buildings and a cosy covered atrium would make a closed segment of the city – a complex harmoniously unifying historic and modern architectures.
The biggest architectural value is the interior space of the library. Here, the buildings standing one against another in confrontation, in some places at a distance of hardly 9.5 meters are transformed into the imposing elements of the interior. Of the interior – because the space between them is covered by a glass roof transforming it into the cosy atrium. A gap of 2,5 meters left around the historic buildings throughout all the floors allows understanding them not as a separate segment of a floor, but as an integral facade. Meanwhile, the new inserts were created by the principle of contrast: their more pronounced, but cold colours, straight lines make the modern part easily identifiable.
The results of the near work of S. Juškys are inspiring to look closer at a context and to choose details more sensitively.

A. Štelbienė