MedaTeca: New public library of Meda, Italy

On 10th April 2012 MedaTeca opens to the public; the new library of Meda’s township designed by Alterstudio Partners, a modern cultural hub of more than 1.900 sq. m. entirely devoted to culture, information and spare time, connected with others 30 libraries of BrianzaBiblioteche’s System: 40000 volumes available, dvd, free wi-fi, internet point, automate loan system, newspapers library with refreshment corner, an entirely floor dedicated to kids and a cosy area for teenagers, a study hall, flat roof for open-air reading, but also Desk Job, Cultural Office and other polyvalent spaces for exhibitions, events and classes.

This is MedaTeca: a contemporary architecture whose design, materials, façades colours and the large full-length windows that give onto the road, convey the public vocation of the building. The spaces are bright and comfortable, with double-height rooms and views between a floor and the other, furnished with pieces of the best Italian and International design and others especially designed by Alterstudio Partners.

The MedaTeca building’s cost has been of 1.980.000 euro (equal to about 1.040 euro/ sq. m. Vat included), against the initial estimate of 2.300.000 euro.

After two years of planning stage and as many of works, the MedaTeca, the new civic library of Meda township designed by Alterstudio Partners, opens to the public: a modern cultural hub of more than 1.900 sq. m. dedicated to culture, information and spare time, with an architectural image of strong communicativeness.

Much more than a library, the MedaTeca would be a “Knowledge’s square” for the city and the district, a “social catalyst” for the local community to attend not only to borrow a book or a dvd, but also to meet up, go deep into ones’ interests and hobbies and discover new ones, drink a cup of coffee listening to the music, keep up with what happened in the district and the world, surfing the internet, watch a movie, research or study, attend cultural events, or spend enjoyable hours with friends and children, even the youngest, or take a class during your spare time.

The MedaTeca is part of BrianzaBiblioteche, a network of more than 30 libraries with a catalogue of more than one million volumes. Currently at MedaTeca there are more than 40 thousands books available, that can be borrowed and returned by users also from a self service station located just outside the library.

At MedaTeca everyone finds something interesting. It is possible to surf the web on ones’ own pc or smart phone thanks to the free wi-fi connection, use the internet point, or consult the Online Media Library, a rich database of multimedia contents (newspapers, e-books, music and audio books). There is a magazines and newspapers’ area and a refreshment corner. An entire floor is devoted to kids, with a lot of surprises for the youngest (0-5 years) and several supplies and commodities for parents (bottle warmer, changing table and newborn baby’s chair in every bathroom, etc.). There are silent and fully equipped study halls, meeting and class rooms; a space for teenagers and cinema, hobby and free time sections; a polyvalent area for exhibitions, events and conferences, the Desk job and the Cultural Office. In the whole library there are lamps, chairs and armchairs of all kinds, that create several cosy-corners suitable for reading, resting or having a break.

The internal organization of the library is so flexible that it is possible to keep parts of it independently open, including terrace and study-hall, hence allowing access to particular areas even when the rest of the building is closed. The spaces are bright and comfortable: double-height rooms and views between one floor and the other arouse curiosity in the visitor and spur him to visit the entire building.

The realization of the MedaTeca has also been the occasion to recover, transform and expand the two-floors-high pre-existent building,

remained unfinished and abandoned for twenty years, a township’s property with a favorable central position. The project has rethought the receptacle with respect to its content, redoubling its volumes and modifying its façades, realizing a contemporary architecture in which the design as well as the materials, the façades colours and the full-length windows, communicate the building’s public

vocation. The façades are made with burgundy aluminum sheet especially designed for this project, with high performance insulating board backwards.

The large double-height full-length window, that gives onto the road, permit to observe the library from the outside, marked by upright sunscreens and curtains that, if needed, colour the full-length windows and confer the library peculiar chromatic effects.

Great attention has been paid to energy saving, with regard to the technological solutions (heat pump system and low energy lighting) as well as to the technical specifics of the façades and doors and windows.

The furniture, also designed by Alterstudio Partners, provides extremely comfortable and high quality solutions, combining ad-hoc designed furniture with pieces from the best Italian an International design, among them some donated by Artemide and B&B Italia, two important Italian brands, that have believed in this project and desired to be sponsors of the new cultural hub.

All this is completed by a system of visual communication (logo, graphic, inner signposting) that contributes to characterize the MedaTeca strengthening its identity.

The cost of the building construction for MedaTeca has been of 1.980.000 euro (Vat included), against the initial estimate of 2.300.000 euro, equal to the unit cost of about 1.040 euro/sq. m. Vat included.

Architecture and furniture quality, flexibility, energy saving: these are the key words of the MedaTeca building, which will be shown through its citizens-oriented services.