Architects: Francisco López, Gudula Rudolf
Area: 414 m²
Year: 2012
Photographs: Fernando Alda
Constructor: Cooperativa Villanueva de Córdoba
Collaborators: Rafael Alcántara Pedrajas, Miguel Ángel Lázaro Marín, Antonio Salces Romero, Manuel Garrido Rodríguez
Budget: 411.509,17 €
City: Guadalcázar
Country: Spain
Biblioteca Antonio Gala, designed by Francisco López and Gudula Rudolf, is a compact concrete library located opposite the Town Hall. The interior features a double-height ground floor and a more intimate upper floor, separated by an L-shaped wooden block housing amenities and the staircase. The open-plan design blends various functions seamlessly. The distinctive façade, inspired by modular bookstands and stacked manholes, is constructed from precast concrete frames, serving as a load-bearing structure, housing bookshelves, and providing sun protection while projecting views towards the garden.
The library, situated across from the Town Hall, is designed as a compact, concrete block, seven meters high, resting on its rear wall and facing the front garden and the Town Hall building.
The interior consists of a single space divided into two levels, one above the other. Although their layouts are similar, they differ significantly in volume: the ground floor is double-height, creating the impression of a large entrance hall, while the upper floor feels more private with a compressed height that emphasizes a horizontal view of the garden.
This division is accomplished through an L-shaped wooden block that supports the staircase and conceals necessary amenities. A notable aspect of its design is the elimination of any distinction between served and servant spaces; both floors are open-plan, seamlessly blending various functions such as reception, reading areas, shelves, and aisles into a single, dynamic space.
The most striking feature is the façade, which elegantly meets all essential requirements. The design is inspired by two images: modular bookstands and stacked manholes from a nearby construction site, both scaled up to match the size and durability of precast concrete frames made in a neighboring village.
This results in a thick, alternating blind-open façade that shapes views while addressing functional needs. It fulfills multiple project requirements: serving as a load-bearing structure housing bookshelves, providing sun protection, projecting views toward the garden, and achieving a qualitative impact beyond mere aesthetics.
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Project Location
Address: Ayuntamiento de Guadalcázar Centralita, Calle de María Auxiliadora, 4, 14130 Guadalcázar, Córdoba, Spain
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
