Excerpt: The Library at the Institute of Advanced Research (IAR) by People Collage transforms an existing college building into an open academic space that enhances connectivity and engagement. Including a new intermediate floor and double-height volumes, the design fosters openness and fluidity. A perforated terracotta façade filters light and connects the interior to nature, creating a calm, cohesive environment for learning.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] The project involves the transformation of an existing college building to accommodate a new library, redefining its spatial experience and architectural identity. The design seeks to uplift the building’s overall appeal while integrating dedicated spaces for reading, research, and academic exploration. Additionally, the intervention reworks the façade, lending it a distinctive character that harmonizes with the institution’s architectural language.
The conceptual approach centers on fostering an environment that feels light, open, and seamlessly connected to the outdoors while remaining within a clearly defined boundary. A key challenge was integrating the library within the constraints of the existing structure, as the designated space spanned two separate floors without direct internal connectivity—relying solely on the building’s primary staircase.
To counteract spatial limitations and create a sense of openness, the design incorporates a new intermediate floor level while strategically removing portions of the existing slabs to introduce a double-height volume. This spatial reconfiguration fosters vertical connectivity, enhances natural light penetration, and establishes a more cohesive reading environment. The façade is designed with large openings framed by a perforated terracotta block wall (Jaali), which serves both functional and aesthetic purposes—filtering daylight, ensuring privacy, and creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. A plantation buffer further enhances this layered interface, reinforcing the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The library follows an open-plan layout that encourages a seamless and fluid spatial experience. The newly introduced intermediate floor maintains a light and minimal aesthetic, supported by sleek mild steel columns that minimize visual obstruction. The material palette is deliberately restrained to ensure a neutral and calming ambiance, utilizing structural steel, wood, and RCC for core elements, while glass, terracotta blocks, and Kota stone flooring complement the tactile and visual warmth of the space. A predominantly white color scheme enhances spatial perception, promoting a serene reading environment.
Expansive fenestrations extend visual engagement with the outdoors, enhancing spatial fluidity and creating a dialogue between the built environment and nature. The perforated Jaali wall plays a crucial role in mitigating glare, providing passive cooling, and preserving visual privacy while maintaining a sense of openness.
The spatial organization is linear, with a dynamic interplay of volumes that guide movement throughout the space. On the ground floor, a double-height arrival space establishes an immediate sense of openness, directing views towards the outdoor plantation and perforated façade. This level houses informal common reading areas, a reading lounge, and window-side reading spaces, alongside a dedicated reading cabin for staff. The first floor prioritizes research-oriented functions, offering shared reading spaces, individual reading nooks, and a dedicated multimedia section for AV content.
By balancing spatial openness, functional clarity, and material restraint, the design transforms the library into an engaging academic sanctuary—one that fosters knowledge, interaction, and architectural continuity within the institutional fabric.
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