Spiral Library Design Wins Competition in Rzeszów

Award-Winning Proposal Features Timber Structure and Green Terraces

A spiral library design has won first prize in an international competition for a new public library in Rzeszów, southeastern Poland. The winning proposal introduces a distinctive vortex-shaped volume as the centerpiece of a mixed-use cultural complex serving nearly 200,000 residents.

Urban Integration and Site Strategy

Located on Józef Piłsudski Avenue, the project connects the Marshal’s Office with a nearby school complex. The design establishes a green buffer along existing trees while positioning the main entrance toward the city center. This approach creates a gradual transition from urban activity to concentrated study spaces.

Consequently, the entrance plaza functions as both daily passage and event venue. Infrastructure remains concealed beneath the surface, allowing rapid transformation for book fairs and public gatherings. Moreover, the design prioritizes cycling infrastructure through covered parking and electric charging stations.

Aerial night shot of the Spiral Library highlighting the vortex roof shape, solar panels, and central courtyard. — The “vortex” geometry is clearly visible from above, showing how the spiraling volume culminates in a rooftop terrace equipped with photovoltaic panels for energy generation. (Courtesy of Kengo Kuma and Associates)

Architectural Form and Material Strategy

The spiral library rises gradually from ground level to rooftop terrace. A cubic core anchors the composition while stepped volumes create planted terraces at multiple levels. Glass panels with champagne-toned metal mesh generate visual depth, revealing interior activity after dark.

Meanwhile, the structural system combines cross-laminated timber with steel columns. Layered slabs integrate mechanical channels within 900mm-deep sections spanning six meters. This timber-based approach reduces embodied carbon compared to conventional concrete construction.

The façade incorporates insulated glazing with integrated mesh for solar control. Natural wood screens of varying density create layered transparency. Additionally, green-blue infrastructure including rain gardens enhances environmental performance across the site.

Program and Phased Development

Phase one delivers the main library and entrance foyer. Traditional collection areas combine with reading rooms and administrative spaces. Phase two expands the program with a music hall, multifunctional spaces, and conference facilities.

Dusk view of the Spiral Library showing the illuminated timber structure visible through glazed curtain walls. — At twilight, the building’s transparency reveals the internal cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure and warm interior activity, contrasting with the exterior metal mesh. (Courtesy of Kengo Kuma and Associates)

The project follows a principle of reduce, produce, and store for energy management. Photovoltaic panels on roofs and balustrades generate renewable power. Surplus energy converts to green hydrogen through electrolyzers and fuel cells. Heat pumps, recovered ventilation heat, and predictive building systems further enhance performance.

Therefore, passive strategies include rainwater retention, optimized daylighting, and natural ventilation through automated façade openings. Green roofs and deep overhangs limit solar gain during summer months.

Fire safety requirements combine non-combustible concrete and steel with protected timber elements. Universal design principles ensure barrier-free access throughout, supported by tactile paving, Braille signage, and induction loops.

No construction timeline has been announced. However, the project demonstrates how contemporary library architecture integrates cultural programming with advanced environmental systems.

Daytime aerial overview of the new cultural complex in Rzeszów showing stepped green terraces and urban context. — The project acts as a connector between the Marshal’s Office and the city center, with stepped garden terraces that extend the public park onto the building’s roof. (Courtesy of Kengo Kuma and Associates)

What role should public libraries play in addressing climate challenges through building performance?

A Quick Architectural Snapshot

The spiral library in Rzeszów employs cross-laminated timber slabs spanning six meters, supported by steel columns. Glass façades feature champagne-toned metal mesh with thermal insulation. Green terraces wrap the structure at multiple levels. Photovoltaic systems and hydrogen storage support energy independence. The design prioritizes accessibility and passive environmental control.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Public library commissions increasingly follow a predictable sequence: international competition, signature spiral form, timber-plus-steel hybrid, hydrogen storage ambition, and phased delivery tied to uncertain municipal budgets. This pattern emerges not from architectural vision but from three converging pressures. First, cities near geopolitical borders seek cultural landmarks to signal stability and European alignment. Second, competition juries reward formal complexity that photographs well before construction begins. Third, sustainability certifications demand renewable systems regardless of local grid capacity or maintenance expertise.

The spiral typology recurs across unrelated contexts because it solves a procurement problem, not a spatial one. It provides visual distinction while allowing conventional floor plates inside. Phased construction protects municipal risk exposure but frequently produces incomplete civic spaces functioning as temporary gardens for years.

The outcome is predictable when competition optics, carbon accounting, and budget hedging converge.