Kengo Kuma and Associates to Design Spiral-Shaped Public Library in Rzeszów, Poland | ArchDaily
Summary
Kengo Kuma and Associates has won the design competition for a new spiral-shaped public library in Rzeszów, Poland, integrating cultural and educational spaces.
Why It Matters
This project highlights the importance of innovative library design in enhancing community engagement and cultural exchange. The library's unique architecture aims to serve as a civic connector, promoting accessibility and sustainability in urban planning.
Key Takeaways
- The library design emphasizes a spiraling structure that enhances visual appeal and functionality.
- It integrates multiple cultural and educational spaces, fostering community interaction.
- Sustainable features include green buffers, permeable paving, and accessibility considerations.
Save this picture!Courtesy of Kengo Kuma and AssociatesWritten by Antonia PiñeiroPublished on February 23, 2026 Share ShareFacebookTwitterMailPinterestWhatsappOrhttps://www.archdaily.com/1038958/kengo-kuma-and-associates-to-design-spiral-shaped-public-library-in-rzeszow-poland Clipboard "COPY" CopyKengo Kuma and Associates was recently awarded first prize in the competition to design a new library in Rzeszów, the capital of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship in southeastern Poland. The city, home to nearly 200,000 residents, lies on the Wisłok River and is known as a center for the aviation industry. Strategically positioned along the main Kraków-Lviv railway and road corridor, it also serves as an important transit point near the Ukrainian border. Located on Józef Piłsudski Avenue, the new library is conceived as a connector between the Marshal's Office of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and the nearby Secondary School Complex, reinforcing the area's civic character. The program combines traditional library functions with cultural, educational, and artistic spaces. In addition to reading and collection areas, an expanded event zone includes a music hall, multifunctional hall, conference rooms, and administrative areas. A spiraling library volume forms the tallest element of the complex, while event spaces and roof terraces extend the program outward, linking the building's activities with the surrounding city.+ 7 Save this picture!Courtesy of Kengo Kuma and AssociatesThe project'...
