The new public library “L’Ourse” represents a cultural landmark in the heart of the French town of Dinard. As part of an ambitious development scheme, this major education resource is key to the urban regeneration of the area, which was actually a neglected no- man’s land.

With a total area of 2,300 sqm distributed over three floors, the facility provides shelf space for 36,000 multimedia documents.

The ground-floor includes an exhibition hall and a 470 sqm reading room reserved to adults and teenagers. The children reading and activity rooms are located on the first floor. The basement locates the administrative office and provides storage facility for the city archives.

The sleek design by RBTA seeks to maximize daylight penetration through the balanced use of glass and stone; generous wall openings frame the views of the 19th century buildings surrounding the facility’s site.

A soft, neutral color palette applied in the interior design contributes to the inviting character of the building.