“This library won’t be just another cultural facility — it will be a true catalyst for the city’s artistic and literary life.”
-Olivier Bianchi, Mayor of Clermont-Ferrand
For over half a decade, the most hotly-anticipated building project taking shape in Clermont-Ferrand has been the Clermont-Ferrand Metropolitan Library. All mindfully and aesthetically built libraries have a magic to them, but this new space — an expansion of what was once an 18th-century-era hospital —won’t just be the most impressive library in Auvergne. It will be a world in and of itself, a social hub and leisure space featuring an atmospheric garden, a 200-seat amphitheatre, and a number of events spaces. As Patrick Richard, Principal Director at Stanton Williams (the architecture firm leading the project) put it: “The library gives us faith in the importance and transformational power of literature and culture for our cities and communities.”
To learn more about the history of the project and how it’s expected to contribute to local and regional culture, Visit Auvergne spoke with Olivier Bianchi, mayor of Clermont and president of the Clermont Auvergne Metropole.
A.D. Manns: In your opinion, what is the most exciting aspect of the project?
Olivier Bianchi: What excites me most is the way this project embodies the alliance between international excellence and local expertise. The central forum, designed by the London firm Stanton Williams in collaboration with the Clermont-based architects at MTA, is a true feat: a glass, light-filled space that integrates perfectly into the historic structure of the Hôtel-Dieu. This dialogue between past and future, between mineral and vegetal, makes it a unique place. But beyond the architecture, it’s the ambition of the project itself that is thrilling: transforming a library into an essential living space, a beating heart for culture, connection, and innovation right in the city centre. This project will quite literally change the face of Clermont-Ferrand.
AM: In what ways do you imagine the completed library will transform the literary and artistic culture of Clermont?
OB: This library won’t be just another cultural facility — it will be a true catalyst for the city’s artistic and literary life. By bringing together the Jaude and Heritage collections, offering a wide range of thematic areas (from science to the arts, including music and digital media), and incorporating an amphitheatre, exhibition spaces, and even a video game lounge, we are creating a place where culture is lived every day. Imagine debates, author talks, children’s workshops, artistic performances…All of this in the city centre, accessible to everyone. With an expected 500,000 visitors each year, it will become a place of exchange, discovery, and creation, attracting both locals and tourists. It’s a cultural revolution for our region!
AM: Clermont-Ferrand is increasingly becoming a sought-after cultural destination for both international and domestic tourists. Which features of the Hôtel-Dieu do you think will be particularly appealing to them?
OB: Tourists will be instantly captivated by the bold architectural design: an ultra-modern, light-filled forum seamlessly integrated into an 18th-century building listed as a Historic Monument. But what will strike them most is the unique atmosphere of the place. The 3,651 m² reading garden, with its century-old trees and historic fountain, will offer an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. Add to that welcoming social spaces, a rich cultural program, and an exemplary environmental approach (low-carbon materials, waste recovery, etc.), and you get an unmissable destination. Finally, its central location will make it the ideal starting point for exploring Clermont-Ferrand — its heritage, gastronomy, and volcanic landscapes. The Hôtel-Dieu will not just be a library: it will be the new face of our city, a symbol of its dynamism and openness.
Click here for more information on the Clermont-Ferrand Metropolitan Library Project.
