Public Library, Choszczówka

The public library building in Choszczówka is an example of sustainable design in architecture, where technical assumptions go hand in hand with social assumptions.

Location
6 Kłosowa Street, Warsaw

Client
Capital City of Warsaw, Białołęka District

Status
Completion

Area
625 m²

Project
2023

Completion year
2024

The library in Choszczówka was nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2026.

Even before its opening, the library received the 2024 Architectural Award of the Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw in the “Public Utility Architecture” category and for solutions ensuring accessibility, as well as a distinction in the “Best Ecological Project” category in the 2023 PLGBC Polish Green Building Council Awards.

The library is located in a single-family housing district with pre-war architecture and lot of greenery but a lack of public spaces. The building houses a library for adults and children, multifunctional conference room, space for children’s activities and offices for the management of the district libraries. The lobby area provides a place to sit with a laptop or have a meeting. Green area adjacent to the building is an extension of internal space and can be used in summer for reading, library lessons and events. Since there is no fence, the building has a broader green context.

The most important source of inspiration for us was the nature surrounding the library, which is why natural materials were used on the facade and in the building’s surroundings. The vertical arrangement of the boards blends into the rhythm of the tree trunks surrounding the building, while the mineral driveway surface resembles a rural dirt road.

Solutions limiting energy consumption and carbon footprint were applied, including low heat transfer coefficients, a heat pump supported by photovoltaic panels, and ventilation control systems. The staircase and elevator shaft were made of prefabricated reinforced concrete. A 6-cubic-meter tank was also installed in the library to collect rainwater from the roof. This water will later be used to water the vegetation around the building, which helps save valuable drinking water.

We wanted the interior to be both calming and inspiring. Its character is shaped by natural wood, which creates an atmosphere conducive to concentration and tranquility. Through its scent, texture, and unique grain, this material appeals to all senses. The use of wood in the structure, thermal insulation, facade, and as a finishing material helps reduce the environmental footprint associated with construction. The technical solutions applied—a heat pump, a photovoltaic installation, and a rainwater tank—are also intended to serve this purpose.

We wanted the building to respond both to the challenges associated with climate change and to the need to create a user-friendly space.

The interiors open up to the greenery through large glazing, and every ground-floor room offers direct access to the outside. In the warmer months, the area by the building is designed to function as an extension of the indoor spaces, serving as a reading room, a meeting place, or an outdoor cinema.

In the evening, the illuminated library rooms—visible from afar thanks to the glazed facade—encourage people to visit.

“The beautiful new library building, nestled in greenery, is our pride. Residents (…) will not only be able to borrow books here, but also meet with their neighbours, watch films at the open-air cinema, and even plant greenery in the community garden, because the library on Kłosowa Street will also serve as a local activity centre. And all of this in a wooden, cosy building that has already received three awards!

Anna Majchrzak, Mayor of the Białołęka District of Warsaw.