Biot - Community Media Library

Need for a media library :

Within the Sophia Antipolis Agglomeration Community (CASA), the public reading network is already a real success with the Antibes and Valbonne media libraries. It affects the residents of the community as well as those of neighbouring cities. In 2010, this network had more than 40,000 registrants, 879,000 loans and 300,000 documents. Biot’s media library complements this public reading offer.

The media library will replace the two libraries currently present in the municipality: the George Sand libraries in the city centre since 1997 and Saint-Exupéry near the outlying districts since 2001 (a total of 17,798 printed books).

Attached to the Tourist Office and the Municipal Council Hall, the media library will restore a dynamic to the city centre. This space will be located in the immediate vicinity of schools and early childhood facilities. This will lead to socio-educational exchanges and easier access for the youngest.

Staging of the media library :

It is on the site of the Old Biot pottery, acquired by the municipality in 2006, that this establishment will be placed. Symbol of the history of Biot, this place can be conserved and valued.

The Antibois architecture firm EPURE was chosen by the Community Council for its ability to combine tradition and modernity in the construction of this building. Indeed, the upgrading of the oven and the facade will preserve the historic footprint of the pottery. Two buildings will be connected to the media library: the former Pottery (Council Hall) and a more contemporary architecture building (Tourist Office).

Located at the entrance of the city, this space will be all the more strategic as it will have a wider visibility as well as a clear access. The direct perspective of the buildings on the historic center will allow it to be more widely valued.

The media library will be organized around three levels connected by a central staircase. The old oven will be redeveloped in exhibition place.

The objectives of the project :

The construction of a media library in Biot was deemed of community interest by CASA. This new equipment will further develop the public reading network. However, its policy will focus more on media and audiovisual culture in parallel with new technologies and digital issues.

This project is part of a framework defined by CASA, whose objective is to develop reading; it aims to modernize the network by combining it with the specificities of each of the municipalities where the media libraries are located. In fact, this structure will reflect the dual identity of Biot with, on the one hand, an important anchorage in the history of fire and art crafts, and on the other hand, an assertive inscription in the technopole of Sophia Antipolis, looking towards the future.

Architect : Epure d'Architecture (Antibes)

Project size : 720 m²

Construction cost €2,750,334 (excl. tax)
State aid €817,852 (excl. tax)

Open January 2014

• Sheet produced by Margaux Baussant, trainee at the drac Paca with the advisor for books and reading in the framework of a Master 1 "Law and Management of culture and media" at L'IMPGT, Institute of Public Management and Territorial Governance, University of Aix-Marseille.