Bibliothèque Saint-Corneille, Compiègne

In the city of Compiègne, the library is set on the remains of the Abbaye Saint-Corneille. Beyond upgrading working and reception areas, the library architect integrated the heritage building renovation and extension of the cultural facility into its urban context, while anchoring it in the city’s historical continuum. The 12-metre-high curved glazed east-facing façade reveals an archaeological section, exposing the successive layers of the site.

The new entrance is defined by a curved glazed extension attached to the east gable. Conceived by the library architect as a porous membrane, this volume opens views from the main street into the building’s architecture and activities, while bringing natural light deep into the interior. Its construction required a high level of technical precision: approximately 100 glass panels are set in a staggered arrangement on a barrel-vaulted steel structure.

From the ground-level entrance hall, visitors encounter a full-height archaeological cut which spans from a 13th-century cellar vault to the 1950s structure with its substantial concrete foundations. The contemporary glass façade of the media library architecture forms the latest layer, expressing present-day materials and techniques.

With archives relocated to adapted basement storage, the upper floors are returned to public use, accommodating reading, study and conference spaces. An additional level is inserted within the roof volume, dedicated to quiet study. Throughout, acoustic, thermal and visual comfort are prioritized by the library architect, with a palette of durable materials — stone, timber, glass and metal — chosen to resonate with the site and its layered history.