Library in Utrecht

A good building is a good neighbour i.e. it does not keep to itself but contributes actively to its surroundings. Our competition proposal for library, cinema and apartments in Utrecht does just that. The location is more than just an important traffic junction, it is also a gateway to Utrechts city centre. With its distinctive, sculptural shape, it arouses curiosity and signals that this is where things happen! By allowing the building to slope towards the smaller scale of the Middle Age town, and similarly screen off the taller buildings on the railway side, it functions as a go-between, drawing people to it.