The Wir Słowa Library – also known as The Spiral of Words – is a competition-winning public building planned for Rzeszów, positioning the city for a major cultural and civic upgrade.
The project is led by Kengo Kuma & Associates, in collaboration with Schick Architekti, Buro Happold and MASU Planning.
Kengo Kuma integrates nature and literature into a new architectural concept, weaving cultural storytelling and natural elements into the project’s spatial design. 
Kengo Kuma integrates nature and literature into a new architectural concept, weaving cultural storytelling and natural elements into the project’s spatial design. 
Kengo Kuma integrates nature and literature into a new architectural concept, weaving cultural storytelling and natural elements into the project’s spatial design.
Spanning nearly 19,000 square meters, the library is conceived as a city-forming landmark designed to support long-term public use, cultural participation and social exchange.
As a result, the development positions the public library not only as an educational facility, but also as a key component of urban regeneration and civic infrastructure.
Architectural concept and spatial strategy
The building is organized as a continuous spiral structure that physically and symbolically represents a journey through knowledge and culture. At the center of the scheme, a naturally lit lobby anchors the circulation, while the library spaces unfold upward in a single, fluid sequence across multiple levels. Consequently, movement through the building becomes part of the visitor experience rather than a secondary function.
Kengo Kuma integrates nature and literature into a new architectural concept, weaving cultural storytelling and natural elements into the project’s spatial design. 
Kengo Kuma integrates nature and literature into a new architectural concept, weaving cultural storytelling and natural elements into the project’s spatial design. 
Kengo Kuma integrates nature and literature into a new architectural concept, weaving cultural storytelling and natural elements into the project’s spatial design.
The competition jury highlighted the proposal for its originality, strong city-shaping presence and formal innovation. At the same time, the interior layout prioritizes openness and flexibility, allowing reading rooms, learning spaces and event areas to operate as a connected spatial network. In addition, the compact massing supports operational efficiency while meeting the project’s full functional program. Furthermore, daylight drawn through the central atrium reinforces visual continuity and strengthens the relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding park setting.
Landscape integration and public-realm value
Landscape design by MASU Planning extends the architectural concept into the public realm.
At ground level, planted islands operate as ecological buffers, water-retention areas and biodiversity habitats. In parallel, rooftop gardens are introduced on each level, forming a sequence of outdoor spaces that evolve as visitors move upward through the building. As a result, the outdoor areas function as an extension of the library itself, supporting cultural activities, informal gatherings and everyday leisure. Taken together, the architecture and landscape strategy position the Wir Słowa Library as a long-term civic asset where nature, learning and daily urban life intersect within a single public environment.