07/08/2012 – Architecture can give lasting value to recycled materials when construction becomes a collective process rooted in the local community. This is how the Old Market Library in Min Buri, Bangkok, was born. Completed in 2009 in only a few months, the project was designed by the Norwegian studio TYIN Tegnestue in collaboration with CASE Studio Architects.
TYIN Tegnestue worked as a socially oriented practice, using sustainable architecture to support communities in difficult ecological and social conditions. The Old Market Library was one of the studio’s projects in Thailand, following earlier work such as the Butterfly Houses built for children in need.
The new library in Min Buri occupies part of a century-old market building that had fallen into poor condition. TYIN’s intervention transformed the space into a small community library while preserving the existing structure as much as possible.
A key aspect of the construction process was the use of local and recycled materials, which made it possible to build the project at very low cost. Old crates became bookshelves, while second-hand wooden planks found nearby were used for cladding and walls.
Just as important as the material choice was the involvement of local residents. Their participation in the building process helped give the project a collective identity and strengthened the community’s attachment to the library.
The design also responds to the floods that often affect the area. By raising the floor level, the library can remain usable for much of the year.
The height of the existing volume made it possible to create a mezzanine, with quieter areas for reading and rest as well as a more dynamic route through the bookshelves.
The new wooden structure is self-supporting and sits inside the walls of the old building, avoiding the need for costly structural consolidation. The mezzanine expands the usable space without overloading the existing shell.
The result is a small, sustainable library with a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both children and adults.
miranda_shida
Peter Dark
Taus Kishiev
