public library clad in washed timber integrates with warsaw's forest

Ambient Architects embeds a library within a wooded landscape

Designed by Ambient Architects, the Public Library in Choszczówka, Warsaw, is located within a single-family residential district characterized by pre-war housing, abundant greenery, and a limited provision of public spaces. The building accommodates reading areas for adults and children, a multifunctional conference room, a space for children’s activities, and administrative offices for the district library network. The lobby is designed as a flexible area for informal work, short meetings, and laptop use.

The surrounding green area extends the interior program outdoors, allowing seasonal use for reading, educational activities, and community events. The absence of fencing maintains continuity between the building and its broader landscape context. The site, previously a clearing crossed by informal pedestrian paths used as shortcuts by residents, informed the spatial organization of the project. As the building intersects these routes, entrances are positioned to align with existing movement patterns, while a parallel passage is introduced alongside the structure to preserve circulation through the site. The open character of the plot is maintained, continuing its informal use and landscape qualities.

all images courtesy of Ambient Architects

Timber construction and flexible spaces define the Public Library

The architectural response emphasizes material continuity with the surroundings through the use of wood facade cladding, natural planting strategies, and mineral paving surfaces. The program responds to varied requirements from library users, local residents, and NGOs, resulting in a flexible spatial layout. The conference room is designed for multiple configurations, supporting library lessons, meetings, and public events, and can be combined with the lobby to create a larger shared space. Furniture systems are designed for easy reconfiguration and storage, enabling different spatial arrangements and extending usability beyond standard opening hours.

The building by Ambient Architects Studio employs a hybrid structural system based on prefabricated timber elements, with a staircase and elevator core constructed in precast concrete. The primary structure consists of glulam, while timber-frame wall panels incorporate wood-fiber insulation. The facade is finished with thermally treated pine boards, complemented by wooden window frames. Structural timber elements and concrete core walls are intentionally left exposed, while interior finishes include plywood cladding, wood wool panels, timber lamella ceilings, and linoleum flooring. Material selection prioritizes environmental impact, reuse potential, recyclability, and indoor air quality. The building is serviced by a heat pump system, supported by photovoltaic panels that partially offset electricity demand. Rainwater is directed into landscape rain gardens and stored in a retention tank for irrigation of the surrounding vegetation.

main entrance and timber facade