Horror Vacui or rather the fear of emptiness it’s our starting point for an investigation about space and its contradictory relation with structure. Architecture without space is not thinkable. In this sense the space is thought as a stage for the conditions that will host. Our cities are dramatically fulfilled by anonymous spaces and buildings.

In this situation we tried to imagine a new scenario in which architecture make efforts to work just in its properly condition of space that allows flexibility in the suggestion of new situations. The organization of the plans are in this sense the logical consequence of the (non)functional identity. We designed the space of the piazza as an aleatory system dominated by the strong presence of the structure and animated by people.

Even through drawings and images we analytically explore an infinite possibility of colonisation of the space, always generating different situations and conditions. In this sense we tried to be coherent with the starting point of the fear of emptiness, designing in detail this new scenario. The space in the ground floor is occupied by a cruciform element that contains all the facilities, connections and tools. It becomes physically the center of the project and for this reason all the plans are organized around this element.

It evokes a clear juxtaposition between the heaviness of the ceiling and the emptiness of the space. The large spiral staircase defines the main entrance of the library with a monumental attempt. As in greeks and romans buildings the space is divided by a sort of arcade that gives a strong definition to the path that runs around the plan. It divides also the space of the knowledge (that occupies the double high of the slab), in which books stands as Deus to contemplate, from the space for study and critical analysis, that are composed by a field of tables along the perimeter, in a strong tension with the outside. The slab is covered by glass. The structure becomes lighter in the tower, decreasing its heaviness on the base.

The plan is tough as an open space around a central core in order to guarantee the flexibility. The tower is covered by glass that eliminates any kind of boundaries and creates a clear relation within the city.