A library for the urban district and a house for the community. A characteristic design on a blind spot within the urban fabric of Antwerp: a vacant lot at the Munthof.

A library in the 21st century is more than just reading and lending books. It's about interaction. On one hand, there is the dialogue between yourself and the story of the book. On the other hand, there is the exchange between you and the other person in the space. In both cases, an experience, an experience: something individual and/or to share, is sought.

The Munthof is extended both structurally, tectonically, and in material choice, and ends in an accessible enfilade of characteristic rooms. These offer a small-scale intimacy that is broken through at very precise moments to offer meaningful vistas. The experience of the architecture frames the mind. This interaction is enhanced by the use of split levels resulting from a different height of the district hall on the ground floor. Moreover, this space can also be divided for the sake of multifunctionality. This, combined with the rhythmic perforation of the historic city wall adjacent to the lot, extends into a spatial tour up to the top levels of the library. To increase the accessibility of all floors, an elevator is positioned in such a way that it can serve every level.