Discovering Athenaeum

Discovering Athenaeum

Changing the way we read

Treglia, Antonio

Bartali, Riccardo

Margursi, Leonardo

Pisa, Italy

2014

005-LF-P018

University of Pisa

Professional

Solving the relationship between technology and tradition in a way that one enhance the other is the major task of our design. We think that written book can be moved on a digital support with no loss of meanings only if its value is just in the words that it contains. When instead a book's message is also paraverbal (either it is worth for layout or handwritten) the technology cannot replace the physical book. So we invented PYR, a smart device that brings a new way of searching and reading books, and even give access to physical books on caveau.

In order to bring monumentality we worked on timeless archetypes, and classical use of space and voids. Starting from studying the space of Athens Parthenon we designed an environment where the user non just see, but actually feels to be in a sacred space. As for naòs in Parthenon there is Athena’s statue, in the heart of the building there is a pure clean volume, the caveau, where the physical books are available. A monumental facade with slightly overhanging arches enclose these spaces and makes the whole library a landmark, instantly recognizable even from the satellite top view.

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