How about a books-and-mortar marvel? Here stands the Stadtbibliothek am Mailänder Platz. It is Stuttgart’s central library. This modern cube attracts visitors with its vast collection and unique architecture.
The Stadtbibliothek am Mailänder Platz opened on October 24 2011. Its construction cost nearly 80 million euros. Eun Young Yi, a South Korean architect, designed it. The project was called Bibliothek 21 during construction.
Let’s explore its structure. The library is a cube with a square base. It measures 44 meters on each side and rises 40 meters high. The outer shell features glass blocks. Inside, there is a glass facade. The building has nine floors above ground and two below. These floors house 500000 media items. Adjustable louvers provide shade. Those in the roof also function as solar panels.
The word “Bibliothek” is displayed in different languages on each side. The words “Stadtbibliothek” mark the entrance.
The library’s heart is a cube-shaped void. It spans the first four floors. Above this is the reading room. It occupies floors four through eight. Galleries with bookshelves and reading spaces surround a lightwell. A glass roof illuminates this hall. A square window in the lightwell’s floor acts as a skylight for the cube below.
The ground floor features an Open End Area. Here, books can be borrowed and returned 24/7. The basement has an event hall for 300 people. The top floor houses the Café LesBar and access to the roof terrace.
The Stadtbibliothek am Mailänder Platz incorporates energy-efficient technology. It uses solar energy and geothermal energy. Building components store heat for summer cooling.
The library is located on Areal A1 of the Stuttgart 21 plan. This is on the former freight depot site. Mailänder Platz and the Milaneo shopping center are to the east. Europe Plaza is to the south. The Sparkassenverband Baden-Württemberg academy is to the west. You can reach the Stadtbibliothek via the Budapester Platz and Stadtbibliothek Stadtbahn stops.
In 1997, Stuttgart requested a plan for a new central library. In late 1997, the council approved the Bibliothek 21 project. Eun Young Yi won the 1999 architectural competition. His design beat 235 other entries.
Construction faced delays. The groundbreaking occurred on November 8 2008. The cornerstone was laid on June 5 2009. It included the library’s first book. During construction, design changes replaced a planned water basin with a lawn due to stability issues.
The shell was criticized for its uneven color. The construction firm added a uniform, brighter coating. The library’s relocation from Wilhelmspalais began on August 29 2011.
Early operations revealed defects. However, public reception was positive. New registrations rose by 50% and loans by 33% in the first year. Rost formed on the facade. It was due to mineral-containing pebbles in the concrete.
Designed for one million annual visitors, the Stadtbibliothek am Mailänder Platz now welcomes almost two million.
Critics have called its design off-putting. Some call it “Bücherknast” or book jail. The architect defends its massiveness and simplicity. In 2013, the German Library Association named it Library of the Year.
Inside, the Stadtbibliothek offers a unique experience. Its white interior promotes tranquility. The building includes study rooms and a children’s library. The roof terrace gives panoramic views of Stuttgart. The Stadtbibliothek am Mailänder Platz is more than a library. It is a modern architectural marvel. It offers a space for knowledge, culture and community.