Parque Biblioteca España / A Diamond in the Rough // Zine

PARQUE BIBLIOTECA ESPAÑA

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

The city of Medellín, Colombia resides between a network of mountainous ranges, sometimes called the City of Eternal Spring. However, it is better known as the Murder Capital of the World with its deep rooted drug trafficking system. The city has fought an uphill battle to reinvent itself, and with the help of Mayor Sergio Fajardo, a new government program was set in place. Parque Biblioteca España was part of this infrastructure. In 2005, Colombian architect Giancarlo Mazzanti, aimed to create a library that would allow the citizens of Medellín to escape their impoverished realities while emphasizing the city’s beautiful landscape. However, this ideal scenario did not turn out as hoped.

HISTORY & CONTEXT

Medellin is the capital of the Antioquia department and the second largest city of Columbia, with a population of 3.5 million. While it is often referred to as the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellin has been notoriously known as “The City of Death” and the former major domain of drug trafficking worldwide. It earned its infamous reputation during the second half of 21st century when Pablo Escobar declared it the center of his business operations. Around 2 decades have passed since the end of his empire and while crime rates have dropped significantlly since then Medellin is still facing the residual damage from the interior guerrilla wars.

2004 marks a crucial shift in Medellin's identity as a Columbian city. The new Mayor, Sergio Fajardo, initiated an intensive revitalizing campaign addressing concerning socioeconomic inequalities in one of the most marginalized areas of Columbia. The development plan aimed to improve the quality of life through social

Library Parks Social Spaces 2004

Sergio Fajardo becomes mayor of Medellin 2006

Agreement 48

PLAN DESAROLLO TIMELINE and initiates the Social Urbanism Campaign

Project Title: Parque Bibliotequa Espana

Architect: Giancarlo Mazzanti

Area: 11,500 sq. ft

Budget: $4 million

Parque Biblioteca Espana is one of the most well-known components of the Fajardos urbanization scheme.

Located in the northern reaches of the Andes Mountains and bisected by its river Medellin is characterized by its dramatic variation in topography. The dynamic terrain conditions its architectural character. Designed by the renowned Columbian architect Giancarlo Mazzanti the Parque Biblioteca sits highly and proudly in the Santo Domingo neighbourhood overlooking the rest of the city. The design further seeks to connect to its context by imitating the shape of rock formations protruding from the terrain.

2016

architectural interventions across the city as delineated in the Agreement 48 of 2006.

2007

PARQUE BIBLIOTECA ESPAÑA

MEDELLIN WINS LEE KWAN YEW WORLD CITY PRIZE

MATERIALITY & TECTONICS

Medellín’s identifying element lies with its mountainous geography, and it is for this image, Parque Biblioteca España aims to be part of the landscape. Perched at the top of a mountain, the unorthodox form looks out over the valley as a stark contrast to the makeshift architecture of Santo Domingo Savio. It’s boulderlike shape enhances the building to landscape ambiguity, and the dark stone cladding notes as if it was carved out of the mountain itself. This contrast and elevation holds the library as the symbol and pride of the new Medellín.

The local stone tile is paired with oak paneling for most of the interiors. Majority of the materiality follows a monochrome scheme with pops of colour to highlight major features. Each module displays large yellow, green, and red acrylics to indicate its function. Lime-green laminated glass accents the interior libraries and computer labs. Overall, the simple materials come from local producers and create more work opportunity for the impoverished city.

LIBRARY SECTION

Mazzanti developed a design that would act as an escape for the citizens of Medellín; to remove them from their current reality of poverty. To accomplish this, the facades have very limited rectilinear windows looking out to the city, disconnecting the users from the outside. Rather, the light penetrates through the skylights above entering the void between the steel-framed “skin” and poured concrete “bones” of each module. This large separation between envelope and core emphasizes the escape, placing their only connection to the outside out of their reach. The white painted interior mixed with the light well then creates a cloud-like atrium that circulates around the core.

We wanted to take people from this poor community into another place and change their reality.

- Giancarlo Mazzanti

3

COMMUNITY IMPACT

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The library has been very important because it offers many amenities including adult classes, they have programs for children, youths and adults. Our old library had only two computers for the whole neighborhood and we had to take turns, students had to take turns to do their homework, basically almost no one here had access to it. So the benefits that the library has brought are really too many.

Partecipant 1

This place had the nickname The City of Death; now you go inside the library and just see kids playing on their One Laptop Per Child. It’s absolutely remarkable.

Partecipant 2

The main objective of the library is to encourage people to behave physically and mentally in a way that they thought impossible before.

Architecture as a means to create social wellbeing is now more relevant than ever.

Giancarlo Mazzanti

Giancarlo Mazzanti responded to the culture and community of Medella by designing not only a public facility but a focal point in the neighbourhood and a symbol of pride for the larger city. Parque Biblioteca Espana surpasses its pragmatic architectural function by becoming a type of social symphony and thus generating an array of urban and civil metamorphoses in the area. Furthermore, it presented the community with new potential for employment, economic prosperity, and educational opportunities by offering different workshops, conferences, seminars and settings for personal or professional development.

In the past few years, Medellin has been fighting an uprising battle to reinvent itself from the inherent internal damages and conflicts. A social masterplan implemented a series of urban interventions within the informal settlements striving for overall civil well-being. The Library Park of Spain contributed to creating a safer neighbourhood and a noticeable drop in crime rate by introducing open outdoor spaces for people to congregate and a protected interior space, temporarily disconnecting the user from their context. The youth, women and children were the most enthusiastic responders to this project and the possibility of a brighter future.

PROGRAM & SPACE

In response to the needs of the neighborhood, several functions were prescribed in the program. The architects elected to divide the necessary usages into three principle volumes, connected by an underground path. The roof of the underground path forms a central courtyard, tangibly connecting the spaces. It concurrently gives the users a place to gather on flat land, as the community was built on steep mountains.

MULTI-PURPOSE ROOMS

STUDY BALCONIES SHOWROOM CIRCULATION INDOOR COURTYARD

Within the Library volume, the spaces are organized with a clear rythym. There exist a series of three double height multi-purpose rooms, surrounded by study balconies. The top floor holds a showroom.

This arrangement provides users with a variety of options for the space. They can use the space to access books, have both active group study, and calm individual study, and provide computers to a population who otherwise could not afford.

LIBRARY VOLUME SECTION

The circulation of the complex is centered around its main courtyard. In response to the sloping nature of the site, the architects created a secondary courtyard underneath the exterior courtyard to provide sheltered access between the seperate volumes. Instead of providing a simple corridor, this space forms an informal social setting, where visitors can get a bite from the cafeteria. In Colombia’s rainy climate, this provides yet another high - quality gathering space for the community.

It concurrently gives the users a place to gather on flat land, as the community was built on steep mountains.

CONSTRUCTION

Construction of Parque Biblioteca España began in 2005 and completed in 2007 at a total cost was approximately $4 million (Giancarlo).

The Biblioteca comprises of three rock-like volumes (auditorium, library and community center) that are connected by a platform walkway (Fracalossi). Two structural systems were paired together on this project (Fracalossi).

An inner concrete frame houses the programmatic spaces. The envelope is offset from the core, allowing natural daylight from skylights to diffuse throughout the structure . The offset arrangement also facilitated a thermosyphon temperature-regulation system which used solar energy to remove excess heat.

The outer system uses a self-supporting hinged metal membrane with acid-washed stone cladding. Small,irregularrectangularwindows liit solar gain while allowing views of the valley.

A platform connects the block sections to the hillside using a combination of concrete-filled metal columns and stone gabion retaining walls.

The “roof” of this structure, clad in wood decking, acts as a public fairway and community square. (Fracalossi)

Metal roof panels injected with high-density polyurethane

Exposed acid-washed stone tiles, hidden seam cladding

Fibre cement plate

Galvanized steel sheet

Thermoacoustic insulation

Structural concrete slabs

Structural steel frame

Solid concrete subfloor plate

Compacted sub-base

Box 3 (left) and Box 2 (right) Sections

POST-CONSTRUCTION

damaging materials supporting the facade and causing tiles to detatch (elmundo). No structural faults were found, the report recommended that the building be brought up to 2010 seismic standards (elmuodo)

The Medellin Works Consortium was awarded a several million peso contract to restore the Parque, with work scheduled to be complete by mid-February of 2017 (sin fecha).

The Parque Biblioteca España began exhibiting issues with the stone facade within a year and a half of opening (Giancarlo). Early on, the facade began to leak, humidity issues started cropping up and tiles started falling off the facade (Minuto30). White efflorescence started blooming on other sections of the facade (Giancarlo). It was unclear initially whether the problems were the result of inferior construction materials and methods, or ground instability (Minuto30). The builder, Arquitectura y Concreto (Semana) was criticized for using local crews unfamiliar with the construction methods used and accused of cutting corners in order to complete construction in time for King Juan Carlos I of Spain’s scheduled visit (Giancarlo).

The Parque closed to the public in August of 2015 due to structural and safety concerns (Sanchez). An investigation was conducted by the National University to determine the cause and extent of the damage (Minuto30). A 452-page study resulted from the investion (Semana). Much of the damage was attributed to heat, water and strong winds (elmundo). Discrepancies between the facade design and the as-built were pointed to: dimensions were changed, plans were not followed, and some of joins were even made with wire (Semana). These faults in the facade led to water infiltration,

The facace was removed within approximately four months after which works faltered(eltiempo). Despite monthly community meetings initially being held, there was little information flowing (elteimpo). Locals contracted for the works started to complain that they weren’t receiving payments on time (eltiempo). Works eventually came to a complete standstill (eltiempo). In 2018, The Medellin Works Consortium was sanctioned for misuse of funds as the project continued to sit in limbo (eltiempo). The legal battle between the city and the contractor continues into 2022 (eltiempo).

After being closed for seven years, a new contract was awarded and construction restarted in January of 2022 (EColombiano). The city of Medellin announced that $30.8 billion will be invested in restoring and upgrading the Parque, part of which will cover damage that was caused by neglect (Sanchez). Work started in January of 2022 and is scheduled to be completed within 14 months (Sanchez).

The new project is more than a simple restoration, however. The new project will increase the Parque by 35%, bringing the project to a total of 10, 235 square meters (Sanchez). The library will be brought up to the current seismic code, will have a bio-climatic design, increase natural lighting and ventilation and will prioritize use of domestic building materials (Sanchez). The new designs also embrace the Japanese concept of Kintsukuroi, where imperfections are embeded with gold to symbolize resilience and to honor memory (Sanchez). The goal is to preserve the identity and memory of the Parque, while also turning it into something much better than before (Sanchez).

The expanded footprint will make room for additonal programming: the first building will contain a technnical area, a toy library, an exhibition room, a dance studio and a maker’s space; the second building will house an administrative space, training rooms, a children’s library, separate adult and youth computer areas, and adult, youth and children’s libraries; and the third building will host a projection room, rehearsal rooms with requisite dressing areas, and a full auditorium (Sanchez).

REFERENCES

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MOMA. (2013). Giancarlo Mazzanti. España Library, Medellín, Columbia (scale model, 1:125). 2007-2008: Moma. The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.moma.org/collection/works/146715

El Equipo Mazzanti. (2016). 017_SPAIN LIBRARY PARK . EL EQUIPO MAZZANTI. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.elequipomazzanti.com/en/proyecto/parque-biblioteca-espana-2/ Arquitectura Viva, Baan, I., & Gómez , S. (2021, December 3). Spain Library Park, Medellín - El Equipo Mazzanti . Arquitectura Viva. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/biblioteca-espana-medellin Hill, J. (2015, February 28). Biblioteca Parque Espana. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://archidose.blogspot.com/2008/05/biblioteca-parque-espana.html Minuto30.com. (2013, October 23). ¿Quién responde por los graves daños que presenta la Bibliote ca España? Fotos y video. Minuto30. https://www.minuto30.com/quien-responde-por-losgraves-danos-que-presenta-la-biblioteca-espana-fotos-y-video/195771/ Kremerskothen, K. (2013, July 2). Parque Biblioteca Español. Flickr Blog. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://blog.flickr.net/en/2013/07/02/parque-biblioteca-espanol/ Lushington, N., Rudorf, W. & Wong, L. (2016). Parque Biblioteca España. In Libraries: A Design Manual (pp. 194-197). Berlin, Boston: Birkhäuser. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783038216308-041 Sánchez, C. J. M. (2022, January 19). ¡Por fin! Retomaron las obras de reparación del Parque Biblioteca España. Q’hubo Medellín. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.qhubo medellin.com/noticias/por-fin-retomaron-las-obras-de-reparacion-del-parquebiblioteca-espana/

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Montoya, M. O. (2021, May 15). Los líos jurídicos detrás de la fachada de la Biblioteca España | El Colombiano. www.elcolombiano.com. https://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/esta do-de-las-demandas-de-la-biblioteca-espana-de-medellin-AA15041441

Sin fecha para reiniciar reparación de Biblioteca España de Medellín. (2019, January 24). El Tiempo. https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/medellin/sigue-incertidumbre-por-repotenciacionde-biblioteca-espana-de-medellin-318270

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Holmes, J., & Piñeres, S. G. de. (2014, January 21). International Journal of Security and Development. Stability. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.stabilityjournal.org/ articles/10.5334/sta.cz/

A tale of three scales: Debunking the myth of Medellin's Parques Bibliotecas. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2022, from http://infrapolitics.c4sr.columbia.edu/studentProjects/LeeOngP /index.html

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Galilee, B. (2008, October 9). Parque Biblioteca España. ICON Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.iconeye.com/icon-059-may-2008/parque-biblioteca-espana Sotomayor, L. F. (n.d.). Planning through spaces of exception: Socio-spatial inequality, violence and the emergence of social urbanism in medellín (thesis).