Poland, Mazowieckie Province
The project examines Metroteka, the first public library located directly within a metro station in Poland, and one of only a few such projects worldwide.
Introducing a library into transportation infrastructure directly references the best global practices in contemporary librarianship, seen in cities such as London, New York, Beijing, Mexico City, Istanbul, and Prague.
Metroteka embodies the idea of a “library on the way”, a library that does not require users to alter their daily routines, but instead becomes a natural part of them.
Metroteka – Library in the Metro by GK-Atelier Grzegorz Kłoda, won an “Europe 40 Under 40” Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies.
The project responds to the needs of today’s metropolitan user: constantly on the move, living in a fast-paced urban environment, and planning daily life with precision.
Metroteka literally stands in the user’s path between home and work, offering access to culture and literature without disrupting everyday schedules. Opening hours were specifically adjusted to the logic of urban transit.
The effectiveness of this concept was quickly confirmed.
Within the first month of operation, Metroteka attracted approximately 1,000 new users, clearly demonstrating the social impact and scalability of the “library on the way” model as a tool for expanding access to culture in contemporary cities.
The primary design language is parametric architecture, still extremely rare in Polish public spaces and virtually unprecedented in the context of public libraries.
The interior was conceived as an open-space layout, enabling flexibility, adaptability, and multifunctional use, while visually expanding the relatively compact footprint.
In the reception zone, parametric trees create a strong sense of verticality and a cathedral-like atmosphere inspired by the world of imagination.
Deeper inside, the space transforms into a tunnel-like sequence formed by vertical bookshelf elements, guiding movement and sightlines toward areas dedicated to author meetings, exhibitions, and cultural events.
One of Metroteka’s most distinctive features is that no two bookshelves are identical. Each shelf was designed as an organic ribbon with a unique, flowing geometry extending throughout the entire interior.
The children’s zone continues the same parametric DNA in a softer, more sensory form, enriched with greenery, decorative lighting, and a soft carpeted floor.
A key functional and conceptual element of the project is a hydroponic wall, enabling soil-free cultivation of plants, herbs, and flowers located underground, within the metro environment.
Beyond its biophilic and aesthetic qualities, the installation serves an important educational role, demonstrating how contemporary technologies can support sustainability, ecology, and plant cultivation even in highly urbanized, light-deprived spaces.
Metroteka avoids literal references or single inspirations. Instead, it creates a universal, non-didactic space that stimulates imagination and allows each visitor to construct their own narrative upon entering the library.
The project has received significant international recognition and global media attention, becoming one of the most widely discussed examples of contemporary public library design.
Metroteka has been published worldwide, including coverage by The Guardian (UK), and has gained strong recognition within the international architectural, design, and library communities.
Project: Metroteka – Library in the Metro
Architects: GK-Atelier Grzegorz Kłoda
Lead Architect: Grzegorz Kłoda
Design Team: Justyna Baran
Contractor:GABI Sp. z o.o. ul. Tadeusza Kościuszki 9, 36-100 Kolbuszowa
Client: Public Library of the Targówek District of the Capital City of Warsaw
Photographer: Wojciech Januszewski, Tutek Media Company
