New Municipal Library

Restoration and enhancement of the building "Ex Medicina" located in Santarcangelo di Romagna (RN) in via Pascoli. The aim is twofold: to safeguard the architectural heritage, a valuable testimony in the panorama of public buildings of the second half of the nineteenth century, and make it functional to the new use, on the one hand, and on the other highlight the architectural features, historical and artistic and at the same time intervene from the structural and plant engineering point of view through a rigorous design according to the method of the so-called "integrated conservation". The choice of the rooms available for the various functions has therefore been oriented so that the new uses do not require significant interventions of a static order and do not alter the typological character of the building with its historical-artistic values. The library on the ground floor, is in connection with its urban surroundings, through the transformation of the central corridor into a "public road", which guarantees access to the building, its crossing also becomes a place of temporary exhibitions. To complete the cultural and service offer, is the location on the first floor of a room for 80-90 seats, equipped for video-projections, conferences, seminars etc.. This space can also be used outside the opening hours of the library, and therefore is equipped with an access control system independent of the rest of the building.

The existing large scale appears to be capable of performing the necessary mobilization and outflow functions in this structure. It was enough to provide its "compartmentalization" in such a way as to make it a safe place in the event of a disaster, thus intervening following the criterion of minimum intervention.

To complete the vertical mobility system, and to meet the obvious needs of the case, the building is equipped with two new lifts, one serving external users, and the other for the exclusive use of the library service, for the sorting of volumes from one level to another of the building; all done in the least invasive way possible and respecting the historical-artistic aspect of the building.