Kuringen library
Public buildings
A library imagined as a home for all ages.
We designed the new interior for the public library of Kuringen around a fresh idea: the family library — a space that blends reading, meeting, and lingering into one cohesive and inviting experience. Rather than a neutral public facility, this library was conceived as a warm and welcoming home, designed to resonate with every generation.
The spatial concept is clear and intuitive: three distinct rooms, each with their own atmosphere, function and colour identity. The children’s zone is playful and open, the youth space more secluded and intimate, while the adult area offers a warm, home-office-like environment. These rooms are linked by shared zones — such as the entrance desk and a central coffee corner — designed in warm timber and conceived as connective, social spaces.
Existing architectural features such as the coffered concrete ceiling and sculptural staircase were preserved and celebrated. These elements, echoing the 1970s, lend a strong character to the space and underscore the project’s approach to adaptive reuse. Generous windows create a direct visual dialogue between the library and the village — making the library both a place to look out from and a beacon for the community.
The design prioritises both sustainability and adaptability. Three custom-designed zones are paired with modular Nova shelving systems — robust, reconfigurable and reusable across future setups. Custom elements such as stepped seating with integrated storage, flexible benches and display modules support multifunctional use. Accessibility and acoustic comfort were embedded from the outset, with subtle interventions in carpet, lighting and layout.
Graphic designer Emma Thyssen developed a bespoke wayfinding system that reinforces the family-library concept with clarity and charm. Her visual language adds identity and legibility across age groups — from young children to adults.
The Kuringen library was conceived not as a fixed design, but as an evolving framework — a flexible, durable space that adapts to changing needs, while always inviting you to stay a little longer.
