Anteproyecto de la Biblioteca de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca con criterio de confort lumínico

Abstract

A library has a fundamental and multifaceted role within a university since it provides benefits and essential resources for academic and research activities. Thelack of a central library at the Catholic University of Cuenca has led to inadequate use of space for this purpose due to the need to meet the specific needs of students and faculty members. The current library is located in a space that used to function as a chapel, so it is recognized as an architectural adaptation that has not responded to the functional needs of library use. Lighting, access, and furniture were identified as the least considered elements in this adaptation. This research aims to develop a preliminary architectural blueprint for the library that meets the users’ needs through a more comfortable space, lighting considerations, and functions friendly to the academic community. The research addressed three aspects: a literature review on libraries and retrofitting, an observation of the architectural problems of the current library, which made it possible to know the qualitative deficit of the space, a comparative analysis of cases, and finally, a preliminary project was proposed to solve the problems detected. Theoverallproposalfor this library offers a strategic solution to address the issues and generates a functional and esthetic enhancement of the library.