At the beginning of the year the municipality of Carnago, with the support of "STUDIO VOLPI " (a product design, engineering and branding agency) kicked-off an ambitious and important project: the restructuring and enhancement of the old public library located in an historical downtown building. Following the hint and the passion of its founder, Gianmario Volpi, Studio Volpi fosters the mission to give young people valuable tools, accompanying them in their cultural growth and preparing the ground of a promising future. WATCH THE VIDEO!

We interviewed a young architect (new entry in the Studio Volpi team) coordinating the project since the beginning, helping to make the library as it is today. How is the BICA project born and why this name? BICA is the short name for "BIblioteCA" (library) and the acronym of "CArnago library". The Italian dictionary says the word bica means "heap, pile of things" and, in Lombardic it means "pile of sheaves of wheat." (The building in 1980 hosted a bakery Ed.) BICA's project - Beyond the books - originated by the desire of Carnago municipality and its citizens, to redevelop and enhance the old public library. The building, dated from the beginning of 17th Century, housed shelving and bibliographies since 1994. The spaces, as a result of the many destination changes occurred during the 20th Century, had several structural problems and needed an important restructuring intervention. When did the restoration work started? In 2009. The restoration project revitalized the architecture and at the same time underlined the civic role which is represented there. All the potential users were involved in the design work. They had the possibility to express their wishes, their needs and their vision of a public, contemporary space. How Studio Volpi contributed to the project? Keen on doing something for the territory and its precious resources, especially in the field of culture and social integration, Studio Volpi took part in the project, providing its multiple skills in design, architecture and communication. Reading again the history of the building, knowing its morphological and architectural peculiarity, collecting the user's needs, the brand "BICA-Beyond the books" comes to life and the related entire graphic design is realized. A project characterized by the simplicity of the materials and the rapidity of language, a project that wants to show itself as welcoming to all potential users, from children to seniors. The predominant color is presented as the only sign, recognizable and identity-making, in a neutral and minimal context, where the historical elements and the books acquire a predominant position. How is the new library organized today? The building, shaped as a courtyard about 530 square meters big, is on two levels; the colonnade on the ground floor and many breaches allow natural light to give the spaces a warm and cozy look. It consists of eleven rooms, where a number of functions ansd services are made available to users "beyond the books," as the pay-off of the logo says: multimedia space, studying areas, children room, art workshops, videogames for kids, etc. Inside the building, the charm of history and the minimalist and contemporary style of the finishing blend continuously in a dialectical relationship, creating a comfortable and interesting mood. What is the main goal of BICA? BICA wants to stand as a symbol of culture, youth, media, state-of-the-art. A functional and social container with the aim of becoming a point of reference for the entire community.