Ascending and transcending past-present
In German, the word “Geschichte” means both history and story. Located on a hill by Würzburg, Hubland’s altitude enabled many flight experiments. Hot air balloons, zeppelins and airplanes all took flight from Hubland; there was once even a flight school. Our goal was to create a house that reflects the new vision of Stadtbücherei Würzburg: a library for its users, by its users. The challenge was to connect the community to the history of this place, but also empower them to tell their own, new story. The goal was to provide a low-threshold room that helps strengthen the Würzburg community.
"Through resident involvement, we create neighborhood pride and enthusiasm. Our goal is for everyone to feel at home here."
Read & relax
Dynamic interior
Building bridges with Design Thinking
To connect the community to Hubland’s history while giving them the space to write their own, we chose the method “Design Thinking” to kick off the creative process. Through this human-centered method, our intense workshops – in collaboration with Design Thinking trainer and library consultant Julia Bergmann – led to an optimal adaption to the Würzburg community. Both the library and includi team gained very useful information from the sessions. For example: local adolescents shared with us that they wish to chill in privacy with peers – not in a noisy action area as we initially thought. The insights and data collected led to a tailor-made creative concept that offers room and experiences for all age groups, encouraging visitors to connect with others.
Three, two, fun, liftoff!
Design features in the library playfully wink at Hubland’s US Army and aircraft roots. Three eye-catching ‘specials’ include: a coffee car in a luggage vehicle on the ground floor, designed as a central meeting point, a life-size air balloon for kids to hide in and a piece of custom craftsmanship… a massive UFO for gatherings in the basement. Hubland Library also offers several stages, and a variety of pleasant amenities for visitors such as a coffee zone, a reading table/makerspace, cocoons, a work bar, a space for kids, a kitchen and more.
Steadily rooted in its past, Hubland Library is now an inclusive third place floating into the future.
"We connected the local community to the rich history of this place while empowering them to tell their own, new story."
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