The program was a large public library and a restaurant. The site is a wharf between two canals. Half of the surface of the library was to take place in an old warehouse which concrete structure is very present and heavy, but quite stunning.

The presence of that structure is contradictory with the open spaces needed by a large public. The isolated situation of the building is contradictory with the easy accessibility of such a public library.

We devised a building in accordance with the very characteristic plan of the wharf. We built around the existing structure as a way to blend old and new structures. The new structure presents very large spans. The whole construction, from floors to ceilings, is made out of one material : concrete. The two bridges that link the library to the city leads directly to the second floor instead of landing on the wharf.