This is a competition proposal for a new library, student‘s service center and flexible administrative building for the University Duisburg-Essen, in Germany. The young architectural practice Greeen! Architects specifically focuses on ecological and sustainable design approaches. For their proposal, a large ecological complex intends to ‘create a place where city and university are woven together.’

The ‘Bibliosphere’, a transparent and naturally ventilated environment, provides a dominant focal point for the complex. The strong element differs from its surroundings and ‘becomes a unique city- and landmark.’

The facade of the sphere is orientated toward the city and  implements a variety of ecological strategies to provide a comfortable atmosphere for users. The reading rooms benefit from natural ventilation and lighting, solar protection and generous view of the cityscape.

The project aims to achieve a gold certification through the German Sustainable Building Council. By using renewable energy resources and avoiding fossil fuels, the complex’s energy consumption is more than 50% less in comparison to actual German standards.

‘The design approach is based on seven themes: Interdisciplinarity, human scale, spaces for living, sustainable architecture, ecological design, energy saving building concepts and reasonable solutions.’

From Greeen! Architects:

‘The intention of the design is to create a place where city and university are woven together. An open, ecological and vivid building complex is the result with the Bibliosphere as a distinguished signature architecture. The building‘s design clearly differs from it‘s surroundings and becomes a unique city and landmark.

The building is in constant dialogue with it‘s context, it‘s welcoming and presents a new look of the university towards the city. Transparent, light spaces naturally ventilated create a healthy environment for all visitors.

The facade of the sphere orientated to the city is planned to become an energy facade covering several functions. Natural ventilation and lighting of the reading rooms, solar energy, view to the cityscape, generosity of the main hall and climate control.

Through the improvement of worldwide ecology standards, the use of renewable energy ressources and avoiding fossil fuels this building complex becomes a one-of-a-kind building in green building design. A certification through the German Sustainable Building Council with the highest standard (Gold) is the project‘s aim.’