A new library in old surroundings
Marktheidenfeld’s old town is a jumble of romantic alleys and small buildings. The site of the new town library – between the adult education centre and the market square – is easily accessible and will replace the old library, which was practically bursting at the seams.

RitterBauerArchitekten of Aschaffenburg designed a long, thin building that, when placed in the vacant lot, blends in seamlessly with the old town’s historic buildings. On the gently sloping street known as “Schmiedsecke”, the library’s slightly stepped sections look like a row of individual buildings with huge windows looking out onto the alley. Beneath their roof is an inviting space flooded with light, perfect for a modern library. The large windows allow passers-by to look into the reading cafe and the children’s library, and the way the library opens onto the pedestrian zone perfectly reflects its new slogan: “open and informative, unconventional and relevant”.

A modern library for all
The planning stage focused on making the library a place both for meeting and for communication and education. Its 850 square metres are shared across three accessible floors. The different areas are vertically offset on five levels. This allows visitors to see between all areas and find their bearings easily. The library has more than 25,000 pieces of media that are displayed across all levels, each area flowing into the next. At its centre is an events venue with an audio induction loop. Here too, the library has succeeded in becoming a place where everyone can communicate. Quiet areas have been incorporated such as the large round sofa on the top floor and the reading terrace in the southern annex, which is sure to be popular in the summer.

The architects worked meticulously to choose the right materials for the new two-storey building: their respect for the library’s surroundings is clear from the beaver tail tiles used for the gabled roof, the bright plastered facade and the chocolate-brown window profiles. A light band on the crown ensures that the top floor gets plenty of daylight. White and brown also dominate the interior. The library’s excellent acoustics are enhanced by carpets and lots of wood. Combined with seating furniture that adds splashes of colour, this creates a modern ambience for all generations.

Smart sun shading reflects the colour concept
Some of the large south-facing windows on the ground floor and upper floor have been turned into seating alcoves with external sun shading. External venetian blinds from Warema have been used with cable-guided flat slats in “earth brown iron mica effect”. All fixed aluminium parts are in the shade “chocolate brown”. To ensure the space doesn’t get too dark when the external venetian blinds are closed, the system has been configured so that the upper third of the slats open again once the blinds are lowered. This protects against sun and glare without too much interior darkness. Even when the blind is lowered, the interior has a pleasant “sun-kissed” ambience that minimises the need for artificial light.

The architects chose Warema shaft awnings to shade the library’s large windows and allow them to fulfil their purpose – providing a view inside the library – even on sunny days. Plus, the light-permeable curtains only darken the interior a little and the awnings can be integrated into the vertical rod-and-transom structure almost invisibly. The awnings are installed in the shaft and disappear into the facade completely when retracted, protecting them against environmental factors.

On the roof terrace, two parasols from Caravita – a Warema Group brand – are ready and waiting to provide shade. With square windproof roofs measuring 2.5 x 2.5 metres, the bordeaux-coloured parasols will protect readers from the sun.

Construction details

Property: Marktheidenfeld library

Location: Schmiedsecke 3, 97828 Marktheidenfeld

Purpose: Library, events venue

Client: Town of Marktheidenfeld

Architects: RitterBauerArchitekten, Aschaffenburg

Construction period: 06/2016 – 04/2018

Sun shading: for details see downloads (product info)
Warema E 80 AF TLT external venetian blinds, slat colour W4919;
Warema 700 S, Soltis 137 B1 shaft awnings;
Caravita Samara Plus, Lumera 4034 parasols

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