The role of public libraries must be reinvented in the digital age. They are not only research facilities, but also community centers, meeting places, and places to build a community. The importance of the Mönchen Gladbach Central Library as a public indoor space for all sections of the population can hardly be overestimated. The refurbishment and extension of the existing building is intended to remove barriers, make the library attractive to as many people as possible and strengthen the building’s presence to the public. Both the underground extension and the above-ground structure increase the visibility of the building without competing with the protected listed existing building. The design language of the 1964 building is followed and the color concept is used to visibly extend the library into the outdoor areas, inviting all visitors to use the open public space.
