Media Library

The façade was constructed using sawn layered stone masonry in Vals Quartzite. Three different course heights of 4.7, 6.3 and 9.8 cm are used. With a wall thickness of 8 cm, this creates a precise, finely structured building envelope whose horizontal articulation emphasises the architecture of the building.

The layered stone masonry continues into the interior of the Médiathèque and appears on selected walls, creating a visual connection between the exterior and interior spaces.

The Médiathèque François Villon is defined by a deliberate interplay between solidity and transparency. Facing the street, the building presents itself as a compact, almost monolithic volume. In contrast, generous glazed areas bring abundant daylight into the interior and provide views into the public spaces.

A central idea of the design is the U-shaped arrangement of the building around an existing walnut tree, approximately one hundred years old. The tree forms the centre of a sheltered courtyard.

Another particularly distinctive feature is the roofscape: the façade transitions into the roof through surfaces with varying inclinations. This makes the building appear as a unified architectural volume shaped from stone.

The Médiathèque François Villon is a public cultural and educational centre offering space for reading, learning, meeting and cultural exchange. In addition to an extensive media collection, it hosts exhibitions, workshops, concerts, lectures and other events for all generations.

A particularly distinctive and unusual application of Vals Quartzite can be found on the roof. Instead of the traditional large-format split Vals roof slabs, smaller sawn formats were used. The roof thus reinterprets the traditional use of Vals Stone, translating it into a contemporary architectural form.