New State Public Library of Jalisco
A state library offers a rare opportunity to create an environment where the contemporary, the public, and the pursuit of knowledge coexist. It must combine civic prominence with spontaneous hospitality. It must accommodate both play and learning.
In response to the program’s request to organize a collection of two million books across multiple levels with uninterrupted views, the proposal sinks the books into “ponds” contained within the thickness of each floor slab—resulting in completely open spaces.
The building is divided into three main areas: the ground floor, characterized by its generous height and inviting nature; a central section housing the collections; and a roof garden surrounded by administrative offices. In other words, the building is organized around a core that holds the library’s treasure—five levels of book collections. Reading and service areas surround the thematic ponds on each level. This arrangement offers users great flexibility: reading outdoors in the vertical garden area, choosing a table near the pond, or retreating to one of the individual study rooms along the perimeter. It also allows the library staff to maintain precise control over the inventory.
A large opening on the ground floor serves as the main entrance. Upon entering, visitors immediately perceive the building’s vertical dimension, revealed by a vast skylight that branches into three parts, connecting the library’s different components. The ground floor also interacts with adjacent programs—such as a cinema complex and a children’s museum, turning the entire space into a horizontal connection of learning and entertainment.
The library establishes a strong relationship with the main plaza of the cultural center. Its façade can be interpreted as a vertical continuation of the plaza’s vegetation, inviting visitors inward. The undulations of the vertical garden and its shifting surfaces create a closer relationship between interior and exterior.
The north, east, and west façades are clad in a double glass skin that provides thermal and acoustic insulation. This buffer zone also serves as a conduit for fresh air into the building. The glass, screen-printed with handwritten text, offers additional light protection, while the signage displaying the library’s thematic contents helps orient visitors before entering. The south façade functions as a vertical garden, fulfilling the outdoor area required by the program while filtering sunlight throughout the day.
