Kantonsbibliothek Vadiana (Cantonal Library Vadiana)
The Ortsbürgergemeinde (citizen’s municipality) also took part in the building boom of the embroidery age. They commissioned a representative building for their Vadianische Sammlung (Vadian Collection), the Stadtbib-liothek (City Library) and the Stadtarchive (City Archives).
History:
The Vadianische Sammlung – the library of St.Gallen reformer Joachim von Watt (1484-1551), also called Vadian – was left to the city shortly before his death. In 1615, the collection was reorganised by Jakob Studer and was from then on continuously expanded. The library, which was constantly added to by St.Gallen’s upper classes, was the cultural center of the city republic for centuries.
Architecture:
Karl Mossdorf‘s «Vadiana», completed in 1907, embodies this tra-dition and ambition both architecturally and structurally. The striking asymmetrical structure shows its dual function to the outside world: to the west, the villa-like administration wing with offices and reading rooms, as well as a penthouse with stylishly formed dormer windows in the mansard roof. On the other side, a long building extends eastwards with high, church-like arched windows. This holds the archives and library. Between these two buildings there stands an avant-corps with the entrance, with a heavy baroque portal and windowed gables. The entrance hall and floors are impressively decorated with many heavy and costly materials, limestone, sandstone, slate, and all sorts of marble. Masonry is said to account for a sixth of the building costs! Both inside and out, the building’s original state has been preserved: colourful marble inlays, art nouveau stucco, coffering, decorative glazing and ironworks, and oak furniture in the reading room. According to the experts, the most beautiful Swiss library and archive of the turn of the century.
Present-day use:
Today, the Vadiana is the headquarters of the cantonal library of St.Gallen, the Vadianisch Sammlung der Ortsbürgergemeinde (Vadian Collection of the citizen’s municipality) St.Gallen, the city archive of the political municipality and that of the citizen’s municipality.
