Kengo Kuma Integrates Nature and Literature in New Polish Library Design

Summary

• Kengo Kuma’s Wir Słowa is a 19,000 square-meter library in Poland featuring a spiraling “vortex” design and a central, skylit atrium
• The structure uses sustainable timber and steel for a compact, eco-friendly form

The Wir Słowa Library in Rzeszów, Poland – also known as The Spiral of Words – is a competition-winning design by Kengo Kuma & Associates, in collaboration with Schick Architekti, Buro Happold and MASU Planning. Spanning nearly 19,000 square meters, the project is designed to be a city-forming landmark that fosters active community participation, offering an inclusive public realm where nature and literature meet in a series of inspiring and formally innovative spaces.

Conceived as a spiraling form, the building embodies both a symbolic and physical journey through culture and knowledge. At its heart lies a central lobby illuminated from above, around which the library spaces unfold in a continuous spiral across multiple floors. The design was praised by the competition jury for its originality, city-shaping presence and innovative formal qualities.

The architectural concept emphasizes openness and fluidity, with interiors designed to foster both study and community engagement. Event spaces and reading areas are integrated seamlessly into the spiral, creating a dynamic circulation that encourages exploration. The compact and streamlined form ensures efficiency while maintaining compliance with program requirements, and the building’s placement within a park setting enhances its contemplative character. Natural light plays a key role, filtering through the central atrium to animate the interiors and reinforce the sense of connection between knowledge and environment.

Landscape design by MASU Planning extends the library’s ethos into its surroundings. At ground level, green islands act as ecological buffers, water retention zones, and biodiversity habitats, while rooftop gardens on each level provide a sequence of outdoor spaces that change character as visitors ascend. These landscapes serve as an extension of the library’s indoor facilities, offering areas for play, culture and relaxation. Together, the architecture and landscape create a cohesive public realm where nature, culture, and everyday life converge, positioning the Wir Słowa Library as both a civic landmark and a living environment.