The media museum is strategically located in the heart of the town, just a few meters from the town hall and church, and directly across from the music academy built in the 1990s.
This newly constructed Media Museum stands as a landmark building, thoughtfully designed to be both easily recognizable and harmoniously integrated with the surrounding town architecture.
The building modestly recedes to avoid obstructing nearby structures. It subtly announces its presence, requiring visitors to look closely to discover it. Upon closer approach, its bold architectural volume and distinctive features leave a striking impression. This is a building unafraid to assert its presence.
The media library’s facade features multiple pleats, each carefully designed to respond to its specific surroundings and constraints.
On one side facing the avenue, the building overlooks a spacious landscaped square. Here, its transparency suggests a significant interior depth. Along Rue Bouvier, the facade folds inward with a tightly closed frontage featuring just two openings to create visual interest: a break-like opening on the first floor that invites guests inside, and a larger opening on the second floor marking the main space. At the back, the building curves around the town block’s center, centering on a beautiful century-old walnut tree, forming a circular enclosure around it.
The intricately carved roof varies in openness, detailing the building’s height. Along the perimeter, it is nestled among surrounding buildings and remains discreet, while centrally it maximizes volume within local planning regulations.
The structure resembles a large boulder, emphasized by the use of gray quartz stone applied to both walls and roof. Beneath the surface simplicity lies complex engineering. Each facade side employs a unique construction method, using 88-millimeter-thick stones of varying heights and lengths.
The stones on the main roof are thinner and affixed to a metal base. The garden-facing roof slopes more steeply to accommodate branches of the central walnut tree. This section is clad with stone masonry supported by metal brackets—an innovative technique requiring ATEX certification.
As a versatile conference space, the new media library also excels as a social hub. Designer Pascale Guédot shared, “The Queenstown Media Library represents a new trend. During design and construction, the total volume was reduced by 40%, allowing us to optimize space and increase seating capacity.” Automated check-in and check-out systems free staff to spend more time engaging with the public.
The evolving needs and constraints of the media library’s activities and delivery methods were carefully assessed, resulting in a clear and practical spatial organization. After ongoing dialogue with architectural specialists, the layout prioritizes functionality and includes a spacious, open reading room.
Upon entering, visitors are welcomed by expansive open gardens where interior and exterior spaces blend seamlessly. One outdoor stone wall extends into the interior, forming a stone bench that encircles the walnut tree trunk, disregarding traditional boundaries. Wooden steps lean against adjacent partition walls, creating informal seating. In summer, shaded by the walnut tree, the garden transforms into an additional reading room.
The first floor is an open-plan area that warmly welcomes visitors and includes a cozy corner for children. There are no load-bearing columns or rigid zoning; the thick exterior walls conceal a small reading room tucked away within.
A broad staircase opens toward the natural surroundings, bathing the interior in daylight. Wrapped in matching stone, it unifies the library’s spaces and leads visitors to the second floor.
At the top of the stairs, the main reading room impresses with its soaring ceiling, which reaches up to 7 meters. The ceiling is a composite surface directly connected to the roof. The northern section of the building widens, and the roof rises to allow abundant natural light to flood this space.
Design Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Node Details
△ Node Details
△ Node Details
Project Information
Project type: Library
Location: Bourg-la-Reine, France
Architectural Firm: Pascale Guédot Architect
Area: 2,000 m²
Year: 2014
Photographer: Hervé Abbadie
Design team included Pascale Guédot Architecte; Loïc Levisalles, project manager; Luca Antognoli, assistant; FORR, Carolina Fois, landscaper; Speeg + Michel, lighting designers; Batiserf, BET structure; Alto, BET fluids and HQE; Ayda, acoustician; Forget it, economist; CL Infra, BET VRD; Global, OPC; Workshops 59, signage.
Construction companies involved: LBC (major works); ERTCM (carpentry); SMAC (stone cladding); FIC (glazed facades); DBPM (stone facades); SAM+ (locksmith); BONNARDEL (wood carpentry); DBS (false ceilings); FIND LECLAIRE (painting); GIACALONE (tiles); CDI (floor screed); BALAS (HVAC and electrical); ATV (VRD); BOTANICA (planting); VALBOIS (wood flooring).
Structural design by Batiself.
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