THE ARCHITECTURE OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH LIBRARIES SELECTED PROJECTS

Abstract

Purpose of the article - Technologies, materials and current trends are the elements that influence design and architectural language. They shape the face of objects created in accordance with new perceptions of the functionality of architecture, including contemporary libraries, which, while remaining part of the culture industry, must have an appropriately designed and arranged space. Multifunctionality is now a unique feature of architecture, which allows libraries to implement a variety of projects. The final shape depends on the architect's comprehensive view of a given space, and projects commissioned in the 21st century are the best example of this. The objects described herein are not exclusively new constructions, but also those that have been modernized or adapted. The competition designs, which express the architects' visionary imaginings of the future, are also important for getting to know the perceptions of modern libraries. Delving into their architectural form and design will allow us to understand them and set the direction in which their design should go. Research methods - Architectural literature, technical and design documents, photos, competition designs, and the content of websites of individual institutions contributed to the source materials, which were the basis for describing their history. The analysis of the above made it possible to indicate the changes that have occurred since the beginning of the 21st century in the field of design.Results and conclusions - Contemporary libraries, being carriers of material and non-material values, are an area of ​​strong influence on the user, who is invited to explore on many levels. Their modern architecture further deepens these feelings. An architect who wants to create an excellent library, regardless of whether it will be a university library or a facility dedicated to local communities, must plan it so that users experience positive emotions while inside. Only then will the library be not only a place of practical development, but also a place for dialogue and the exchange of experiences. It is also worth remembering that libraries, being part of the municipal infrastructure, turn good cities into great ones, creating the reality of its surroundings. The library space is a constantly developing fabric, a network of connections, which, if properly designed, can have a positive impact on the lives of the inhabitants.