Barcelona | 2025
Type of intervention: Interior renovation and equipment
Dimensions: 50m2
Duration: 6 week
The Juan Marsé Library, located in the Carmel neighborhood, now features a new space designed to enhance learning in STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics). This transformation responds to the need to provide the neighborhood with a specialized educational space where school groups can engage in activities such as robotics, crafts, and other interdisciplinary projects.
With a six-week intervention and a 50 m² surface area, Efebé has carried out the design, project drafting, and construction management to create a STEAM classroom integrated within the public library.
The intervention at the Juan Marsé Library was driven by a clear community and educational vocation. The main objectives of the project were:
Incorporate a STEAM space into the library to provide an equipped classroom where school groups can work on disciplines such as robotics, technology, and crafts, fostering cross-disciplinary learning.
Create a flexible and adaptable space that can be opened or closed as needed, functioning either as part of the general library area or as an independent classroom.
Equip the space with mobile furniture and equipment to allow for quick layout changes depending on the type of educational activity taking place.
Ensure thermal, acoustic, and lighting comfort by adapting existing installations to meet the new space requirements.
Integrate storage systems and water points, essential for using STEAM materials and conducting hands-on activities.
To achieve these objectives, the Efebé team developed a comprehensive design project with a practical, sustainable approach tailored to the real needs of users:
The STEAM classroom has been integrated into the library space through a mobile partition with an incorporated swing door. This system allows the classroom to function as an independent space when privacy or concentration is needed, or to open completely, becoming part of the library as a whole, reinforcing its community-oriented and open nature.
Both the tables and equipment were selected for their mobility, ensuring great versatility in the classroom layout. This allows the same space to accommodate a wide variety of activities, from robotics and craft workshops to training sessions, group work, or exhibitions.
One of the classroom walls has been designed with custom storage cabinets to hold robotics materials and other educational resources. A screen has also been integrated to support audiovisual presentations during sessions, along with a sink to facilitate activities requiring water, making use of an existing installation that determined the classroom’s final location within the library.
With the partial enclosure of the space, the project included repositioning the climate control unit and incorporating a new mechanical ventilation system to ensure adequate airflow. Additionally, a new lighting system was designed, and the false ceiling was fully renovated to improve both lighting and acoustic comfort.
The Juan Marsé Library project is an example of how architecture and design can help reduce educational inequalities by creating high-quality spaces accessible to the entire community. Thanks to the involvement of the Efebé team in the design, project drafting, and construction management, the Carmel neighborhood now has a new resource that brings science, creativity, and technology closer to young people.
