Oak Grove Library

Lithuania’s second largest library, the Ąžuolyno (Oak Grove) Library in Kaunas, is nestled in Europe’s biggest urban oak grove. To mimic the serenity of the surrounding nature, the library’s architects executed a novel twist to the building’s design, originally built in 1987 as a piece of modernist architecture. 

Holding significant historical sentiment to its visitors and with over one million books in its collections, the library’s building itself dictated to the architects the need to preserve its distinctive and authentic relics from the past and to change those features that have lost their relevance.

Having undergone a full-scale renovation, the façade still preserves its archaic original essence, which resonates with the locals. Inside, however, the spatial layout and aesthetics underwent a major shift. The updated design blends the original material and surrounding nature with an airy new vision. It brings a bright and contemporary take on interior architecture by opening up previously separated spaces to make the massive oak grove the main feature, visible through the windows and widely reflected indoors.

The core concept of the reimagined library space revolves around inviting the outside greenery inside. Different plants soak into the spatial composition throughout the building and are organically infused into the natural oak furniture. The atrium space on the third floor reinterprets the flora outside with a green oasis, which has become the main axis of the library’s identity. By brightening the entire building’s interior with lighter shades, the architects softened the background to highlight the library’s books and the greenery – two primary elements of the renewed concept.

Nature motifs are echoed across all four floors, harmoniously syncing the separate spaces for leisure, individual, or group work, children and youth activities, and events. The architects reorganized the thematic literature layout within the building and enriched the library with two event halls, an exhibition space, and, most importantly, green spaces for rest and relaxation. 

After the renovation, the Oak Grove Library redefined itself as the most modern one in the country both for its contemporary style and upgraded services. The library’s new identity, inspired by the oak grove surrounding it, invites visitors to stay a little longer, sit down, and enjoy a book. 

Lead Architects: Raimundas Labutis (lead architect), Ramūnas Grubinskas, Laura Amankavičiūtė, Laima Čijunskaitė