Library and Toy Library in Spiez
- Sabine Drey
By closing the gap between the municipal offices and a school, the library forms a new public open space. On the other side is the countryside around Lake Thun. The ground floor is designed as a continuous space containing the libraries, while on the upper level are local authority offices. The advantages of timber were exploited for the load-bearing structure in the regional Swiss tradition, with prefabricated hollow box floors and framed elements for the facades. The rhythmic wood cladding provides protection against the sun and acts as a safety barrier in view of the glazing to the rear. The strips can easily be renewed, although the weathered patina will certainly become an attractive feature in time.
