“The Spiral of Words / Wir Słowa” is the title of the winning proposal for the upcoming regional and municipal library in the city of Rzeszów, located in the Podkarpacie region of southeastern Poland.

The winning project was developed by Kengo Kuma, Schick Architekti, Buro Happold and MASU Planning. The building is designed as a spiral that symbolically and physically takes visitors on a cultural and scientific journey.

The jury motivates The Spiral of Words the following way: “The entry was judged as attractive, the most original, formally innovative, and city-forming. Its heart is the library space, spiraling around a lobby illuminated from above and running through all floors. The quality of the interiors, both the library and the event space, deserves special mention. The urban planning decisions were highly rated. The library is quietly situated amidst the greenery of the park. The multi-faceted green space, as well as the comprehensive environmentally friendly design, compact and streamlined form, and full compliance with program requirements are also noteworthy.”

MASU Planning is responsible for landscape design, which consists of lush green areas and enhances biodiversity. At street level, the outdoor spaces are framed and connected by a network of green islands that function as buffers, water retention zones and habitats – bringing lushness and biodiversity directly into the heart of the city.

Rooftop gardens on all levels ensure a continuous connection to nature and create surprising visual experiences. They form a sequence of spaces that gradually change character as visitors ascend. 

Gauthier Durey, landscape architect and associate partner at MASU Planning, describes the approach to the landscape design for the new library:

“We have developed a landscape that serves as an outdoor extension of the library’s indoor facilities, offering space for play, culture, contemplation and relaxation in the open air. Together, the ground-level landscape and rooftop landscapes create a cohesive, inclusive public realm where nature, culture and everyday life meet in a series of spaces that make nature an integrated part of the library experience. Along with the rest of the team, we look forward to developing our competition proposal further.”

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DESIGN TEAM:
Kengo Kuma Architects and Schick Architekci by TKHolding Truszczyński Kobierzewski

CONSULTANTS:
Landscape Architects: MASU Planning
MEP/Acoustic/Façade: Buro Happold
Structure: Structured Environment and Häring Timber Technology AG.
Computer Graphics: KIN Creatives and VIBSU
Physical Model: Archimod

Client: Municipality of Rzeszów
Period: 2025 –