Neighbourhood Library De Hoogte

The studio assignment called for a relatively small intervention in De Hoogte, a neighbourhood in Groningen. The brief consisted of a local library to function as a social connector in the neighbourhood. Given the existing urban context, this design proposes a larger intervention. Since the larger the building, the greater the impact on the surroundings, the project wanted to be as light as possible. Using temporary pavilions as a basis, the library was designed to minimise the site footprint and ecological footprint. Measures include using high-quality materials in standard sizes and avoiding in-situ concrete. The reasoning behind this stems from an understanding that the construction industry is responsible for a very large proportion of global waste production and CO2 emissions. The aim is to design buildings to avoid unnecessary waste and emissions, in harmony with the circular economy we should aspire to as a society. In this way, if the library is ever deemed unnecessary, it can be dismantled without leaving a trace.