The Gabriel García Márquez Library, designed by SUMA Arquitectura, stands as a tribute to the acclaimed Nobel laureate.
Barcelona honors the Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author, Gabriel García Márquez, with a library named after him. Known for his classic works such as "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and "No One Writes to the Colonel," García Márquez resided in Barcelona for nearly a decade between 1967 and 1975. The library, dedicated entirely to Latin American literature, is situated in the Sant Martí district of Barcelona.
The building is the city's third-largest library and was designed by SUMA Arquitectura. Inspired by stacked blocks of books, the building is elevated slightly from street level. Its wide openings and voids create an interactive relationship with the surroundings.
The access arcade extends the pedestrian and cultural axis of the neighborhood, establishing a connection with the interior space. Spanning 4,294 square meters and spreading across five floors, the library features a central courtyard that brings natural light to the heart of the building. This expansive void also serves as a solar chimney, particularly effective in hot and humid weather, absorbing sunlight, heating the air inside, and facilitating natural ventilation.
The combination of wood and steel maximizes structural efficiency and architectural performance. Components that reduce the ecological footprint, carbon emissions, and construction time come together in an attractive and inviting wooden structure, which has been awarded the prestigious LEED Gold certification, symbolizing the highest level of sustainability.
The Gabriel García Márquez Library adds another layer to Barcelona's already diverse and vibrant cultural landscape enriching it even more.
