BIB++

Commissioned by the municipality of Utrecht, VMX Architects participated in am international competition to make an initial design for the central library in the center of Utrecht. The complex a cinema and arts centre also120 apartments. Out of 7 European offices, VMX's design was chosen as the winning design. The building was meant to be realised in 2012.

Winner of the competition for a short time.

Well embedded?

As one of the crucial public buildings of the city, the library should be extremely open and well embedded in its surroundings. In this case, the idea of openness is obstructed by the public transport system, running through the site. By lifting the building, however, the transport rails and green public space are each given their own space. At the same time the green space of the site is lengthened into a tapestry surrounding the library building and facing the canal.

like a cloud

The building is rounded off at all sides, like a floating cloud. In doing this, the spaces under and around the building receive enough air and sunlight. Furthermore, the new library is given its recognisable and elegant shape by carving out two large outdoor spaces. This means all houses have spacious terraces looking at a collective courtyard, facing the railway tracks. The public part of the building (library, cinema and arts centre) share a roofed belvedere, giving a spectacular view on the city.

WHAT happened?

Winner of the competition for a short time? How is that possible?
The municipality of Utrecht invited the participants to a ceremony to announce the winner, Rapp & Rapp. But when we received the jury report, calculating the points, it turned out we had the highest score. We informed the municipality and they named us as the winner of the competition. This was even later confirmed by a court.
Rapp & Rapp was not happy with the decision and they decided to go for the highest court. The highest court decided that the jury had the intention to name Rapp & Rapp as the winner but had made a mistake.
This was a very strange situation. At the end Rapp & Rapp was named as the winner again but the project was cancelled and never build.