B-bis wins competition for the interior design of Kuringen Library

Our proposal introduces the idea of a family library: not a neutral public facility, but a warm, domestic environment that feels familiar and intuitive. A library where children can explore, teenagers can retreat, and adults can work or read in peace.

The design is structured around three distinct rooms, each with its own colour palette, atmosphere and intended audience. A playful children’s zone with stepped seating and built-in storage. A more secluded space for young adults, imagined as a lounge-like reading room with modular benches. And a quieter area for adults, designed as a warm home-office setting with soft lighting and views out to the village square.

These rooms are connected by shared, collective zones — a central reception desk, a coffee corner, and an open reading area. In these transitional spaces, timber detailing and a more neutral material palette create a calm, tactile counterpoint to the vibrant reading rooms.

Rather than erasing the existing architecture, the design builds upon it. The coffered concrete ceiling, the sculptural staircase, and generous windows already lend the building a strong identity. Our interventions aim to strengthen this character, not compete with it.

The interior layout offers a clear spatial rhythm — gently progressing from young to old. The colour-coded rooms guide visitors intuitively through the space. Even the youngest readers can immediately recognise: this is where I belong.

Sustainability informed every design decision. Standardised Nova shelving units allow for reconfiguration and reuse. Custom modular furniture supports different uses — from group readings to individual study. The library is fully wheelchair accessible, inclusive, and adaptable to evolving needs.

The graphic identity and signage were developed by Emma Thyssen, whose system adds clarity, personality and coherence throughout the space — accessible for all ages without losing visual sophistication.

For us, the Kuringen library is more than just an interior project. It is a space designed to evolve, to host change, and to bring people together. Not through spectacle, but through clarity, comfort, and a distinctly human scale.

The opening of the new library is scheduled for spring 2026.