The media library for the people of the Rincon Grande neighborhood in San José, the capital of Costa Rica is designed as a modular raised platform resting on steel pillars covered by a ventilated roof. The orientation of the project takes advantage of natural light and movable façade panels regulate the internal breeze circulation, avoiding the installation of mechanical air conditioning.

With a minimal environmental impact, this proposal offers a low cost, integrated and multifunctional solution, based on the commercial building system of the town, using local materials and workforce. Architecture is used as a tool to build social space, strengthen community identity and enhance the social life of the community across different ages, interests, classes and cultures.

Read project feature in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)

Fabricio Mora from Universidad Latina (Heredia) explains how the aim of the project is to provide space in a public building for education, entertainment, access to information, and facilities for social activities. “Plaza Mediateca: Library and media center” in San José, Costa Rica won the “Next Generation” 4th prize and explores the role of architecture to reduce social inequality through the construction of a library for both books and new media in neglected neighborhoods. 

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The 12 winning projects of the Holcim Awards 2014 for Latin America focus mainly on adaptability and social performance, and show how sustainable construction is developing multi-disciplinary responses to the challenges facing design and building. A public park above a series of reservoirs in Medellín, a low-impact timber rainforest center in Costa Rica and a pedagogically-aligned school in Mexico were awarded gold, silver and bronze.

The significance of the project, according to jury, lies in its objective to reduce social inequality by furthering resilient forms of education in marginalized communities. The proposed design explores the role of architecture to achieve this aim through the construction of a library for both books and new media in neglected neighborhoods – turning “non-places” into truly habitable and secure “places” for people. The structure – a platform on stilts – hovers over a square, accentuating the representative significance of the building as a public good belonging to all.

The media library for the people of the Rincon Grande neighborhood in San José, Costa Rica is designed as a modular raised platform resting on steel pillars covered by a ventilated roof. The orientation of the project takes advantage of natural light and movable façade panels regulate the internal breeze circulation, avoiding the installation of mechanical air conditioning.