Kaniana Neocampus Library Project Wins Golden Trezzini Award

On 15 November, the VII International Golden Trezzini Award ceremony took place at the Hermitage Theatre in St Petersburg. The jury, consisting of experts from 34 countries, honoured the world's best achievements in architecture and design.

The winner of the Best Design Project for Library nomination was the IKBFU Neocampus Library. The space, which combines cutting-edge technologies, a library and modern creative hub, will become an important element of the region's educational and cultural infrastructure.

The project designer, prominent Kaliningrad architect Arthur Sarnitz, highlighted that the library would stand out as unique in Russia and across the globe.

Arthur Sarnitz
I was inspired by a creative trip where I studied the architecture of campuses and library spaces in Europe and Asia. For the IKBFU campus we faced a complex design and engineering task — to create a visually unique and comfortable space for study and creativity. The late 19th-century Russian architectural tradition of using cast iron and steel in construction became the core of the project.

The library has been designed as a fully accessible environment. Each of the four towers will have its own domain, housing books on philosophy, history, classic literature, etc.

Arthur Sarnitz
The library will be the heart of the Neocampus. It will prove that modern designs by contemporary architects can become a landmark of the region along with historical sites like the Cathedral or the Amber Museum building.

According to the architect, buildings should fulfil criteria such as reliability, beauty and function.

Arthur Sarnitz
There are already so many purely functional spaces. It's time for beauty and aesthetics to take precedence. In my opinion, this beauty will help to preserve the future campus complex for centuries to come. I thank the management of IKBFU for their trust and the opportunity to bring this project to life!

In January 2024, during his visit to the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Russian President Vladimir Putin commended the library project. Currently, the project of the multifunctional complex is undergoing a state expertise, the results of which are expected in February 2025.