INTEGRATED
ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE

The intervention aimed to expand library spaces and establish distinct functional areas tailored to various user needs. A new extension to Villa Erizzo takes the form of a single-story "L" shaped volume extending along the West and South sides of the area. Its defining feature is a projecting roof that forms a porch for outdoor activities, designed with inclined planes to integrate harmoniously with the surroundings and architecturally complement the existing prestigious buildings. The new library accommodates approximately 29,600 volumes across approximately 985 meters of archive space. The layout enhances the overall design by creating an internal courtyard, bordered on two sides by buildings—such as the eighteenth-century Villa Erizzo and the Foresteria—preserved under Legislative Decree 42/2004. This enclosed space is ideal for cultural and scholarly pursuits. Architecturally, the building comprises two main wings with continuous glass windows facing the internal cloister, promoting visual continuity and particularly highlighting views towards the garden of the historic Villa. The areas were functionally and spatially optimised to include a conference room, reading rooms, study spaces, multimedia stations, and bars. Additionally, the design integrated an independent glass structure serving as a functional link between the historic villa and the new building. This structure includes a new staircase that complements the existing lift shaft for seamless vertical circulation. Render: Matteo Margutti, Visual Artist