Building in a floodplain makes no sense. So why, then, was the Enric Miralles Library (completed by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue in 2007 in Palafolls, Catalonia) built on a site that was known to flood on occasion? And knowing that (presumably), why did these celebrated architects design the library to be semi-underground, of all things?
It is certainly an unusual building. Set in a verdant park, the interior of the low-slung single-story pavilion is not revealed until a long, gentle ramp is descended between curved brick retaining walls that become taller with every step. The entrance is through a window wall at the bottom of the sloped terrain, where a sculptural concrete canopy overhead features the name of the library in trademark Miralles lettering. The interior is “bathed” (pardon the expression) with indirect daylight that is admitted through abundant windows, creating an interior ambiance that is conducive to reading.
Earlier this month, on October 4th, 190mm of rain fell in a matter of hours in the region of Palafolls, with 1.5m of floodwater accumulating inside the library. Around 80% of the collection was damaged, including unique pieces of furniture designed by the architects. The next day, an army of volunteers tried to save as much of the collection as possible.
The library had flooded previously on several occasions in the nearly 20 years since it was built, but never as badly as this year. In addition to causing longer and more severe heatwaves, droughts and forest fires in Spain, climate change is also making the autumn storm season palpably more intense every year, so there is not much that can be done to flood-proof the library. Perhaps the authorities should seriously consider moving the library elsewhere, and find another use for this building. But what can be done with this work other than let it deteriorate into a romantic ruin in a park?
The Enric Miralles Library is clearly from an era that is coming to an end; an era when architecture schools encouraged students to question common sense and to take risks. How quaint.
In today’s highly combustible world, perhaps it’s better not to play with fire.
