“In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.” ― Mark Twain
We have always imagined good libraries as very quiet places but the truth is that there is much more behind this kind of space which makes us so productive. In addition to silence, we also enjoy some privacy, little corners are greatly appreciated. Daylight plays a very important role and high ceilings which help to reflect that light makes us feel comfortable and relaxed. However, all this is not enough, libraries are an architecture result which make people interested in culture too, in the unknown, they help us be more creative…
Wonder what are some of the most recent libraries in the world? Here you have some examples. My favourite is #10 (kind of atypical) which one is yours?
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1. Ofunato Civic Center and Library
Location: Iwate (Japan)
Architect: Chiaki Arai Urban and Architecture Design
Year: 2008
Brief Description: Cultural building complex which consists of a main hall with 1100 seats, a library, multi-purpose spaces, an atelier, a tea room, and a studio. Amazing use of concrete, doesn’t it? Read more here.
2. South Mountain Community Library
Location: Phoenix (USA)
Architect: Richärd+Bauer
Year: 2011
Brief Description: The interior of the building is lined in an acoustical cedar wood, frosted and laser cut acrylic panels reflect patterned abstractions of the agriculture that once was an integral part of the community. Read more here.
3. Tama Art University Library
Location: Tokyo (Japan)
Architect: Toyo Ito
Year: 2013
Brief Description: The spatial diversity one experiences when walking through the arches different in span and height changes seamlessly from a cloister-like space filled with natural light, to the impression of a tunnel that cannot be penetrated visually. Read more here.
4. Sant Josep Library
Location: Valencia (Spain)
Architect: Ramon Esteve
Year: 2010
Brief Description: Thanks to the winding plan of the interior, each area of the library is an intimate and reserved component The surroundings give unity, continuity and fluency to the spaces. Read more here.
5. City Library in Seinäjoki
Location: Seinäjoki (Finland)
Architect: JKMM Architects
Year: 2012
Brief Description: Building complex made by this library and a cultural center designed by Alvar Aalto in 1965. Masterpiece of modern architecture and a highly valuable cultural environment. Read more here.
6. Maranello Library
Location: Maranello (Italy)
Architect: Andrea Maffei Architects
Year: 2011
Brief Description: The building borders with a residential court on the north, with a public green area on the west, with a residential building on the south built in adherence and with other residential buildings on the East and partially in adherence. Difficult site, great solution. Read more here.
7. University of Aberdeen New Library
Location: Scotland (UK)
Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Year: 2012
Brief Description: Since the building was put into service in September 2011, the statistics have shown a significant increase in the use of the library, and more than 700,000 visitors have entered the building this first year of operation. Read more here.
8. Hunt Library
Location: North Carolina (USA)
Architect: Snøhetta
Year: 2013
Brief Description: Generous open spaces connect all floors of the library and open stairs emphasize an interactive and social environment alongside more focused study areas. Read more here.
9. Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre
Location: Melbourne (Australia)
Architect: H2o architects
Year: 2010
Brief Description: The building was designed to minimize use of energy by reducing heating and cooling loads and where possible, passive heating, cooling and ventilation are used instead of mechanical systems. Read more here.
10. The Garden Library for Refugees and Migrant Workers
Location: Tel Aviv (Israel)
Architect: Yoav Meiri Architects
Year: 2010
Brief Description: The project sees the right to a book as a fundamental human right and a possibility of both escape and shelter from daily misfortunes. Read more here.
11. Library in Anzin
Location: Anzin (France)
Architect: Dominique Coulon & Associés
Year: 2013
Brief Description: Its pure, sophisticated geometry situates it as a public building. The deliberate areas of transparency reveal its content. The reading rooms present the building to the town in the manner of an invitation. Read more here.
My favourite is number 10 too. It reminds me of the old school libraries of my youth. It’s very manageable and friendly and it is the book more than the building which takes precedence.
Lovely to see all the different libraries though. Very enjoyable post.
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That is exactly what I like about it, it is very manageable. Also, I think it is the one that makes the most out of the space, not even 50 sqm! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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Incredible space management!! Beautiful buildings by the way!
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Some of them are amazing projects! And so much more is behind the form. All of them are outstanding examples of sustainability!
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some wonderful places to read… my favourite has to be the alvar aalto (and those fabulous red reading nooks), but 10 is wonderful and proves a library isn’t necessarily about big bold architecture.
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Yes, the addition to the Alvar Aalto one is a gem of architecture! Never been there and yet it looks amazing!
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Fantastic post! You have inspired me to take photos of our the Vancouver Public Library!!! Wherever there is a library, there is hope…
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I agree! There will be a Part II of this post so keep me updated with upcoming constructions 🙂
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These are beautiful structures. Who would not want to go in, sit down and open a book. Thanks for the visit and the like of my post “Peeling Back Slowly”.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Thanks a lot for your visit to my blog,
I also like yours!
Best regards from Madrid
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Muchas gracias 🙂
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Great places to go and spend some time with my Kindle.
As for preferences, while I like the idea behind #10, I would have to go with #7.
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Yes, 7 is a very good choice. Number of visitors increased since they built this new library. Stunning how a building can change our habits. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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Fantastic collection!
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Glad you liked it 🙂
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This post here is a collectible, for sure! I love it! The Garden Library is the best… for so many reasons. And all the others a close second. Indeed, a good library can inspire a person to many greatnesses.
Have a great week ahead!
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I agree with you! And the rest are really good projects. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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Amazing buildings – all of them! … Have you managed to actually visit any?
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I was very lucky and had the chance to visit the Scottish and Spanish ones! Really effective places! Had you?
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Love all of them but 4 is my favourite.
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Good choice too 😉
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I don’t think I’d get much reading done- I’d be too gob-smacked! These are awesome structures. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Me neither, at least the first few weeks… months maybe! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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very cool list, i was surprised to see that the german library i see photos of on 500px was not listed, i cannot remember its name though!
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Mmm… right now I don’t know which one are you referring to. It’s in Germany but do you know the city? or do you remember any of its features?
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I love the architecture but feel I may not get much reading done in any of them as I would be staring at the beautiful buildings! I like to curl up somewhere cosy and warm with my book! And that is what I am doing this afternoon, curling up with the Booker Prize winner, The Luminaries, with no distractions. Perfect!
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I wouldn’t get any reading done either! Some spaces are just amazing. Your Sunday afternoon plan sounds delightful, good music and a book, nothing better 🙂
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These are divine and heavenly
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Thanks for the kind comment 🙂
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Hey i have been checking your blogs since past two hours !
they are very interesting , and you seem like a very curious person !
🙂
anyways…i would also have added..
VANCOUVER central library by moshe safdie, and louis kahn’s IIM , AHMEDABAD, INDIA LIBRARY ( i have been in it and its just so magnificent) also his phillip exeter library !
🙂
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Thanks very much for your kind words 🙂 I was thinking on doing part II of this post so your contributions are very welcome. I haven’t visited any of those so can’t wait to do some research. What did you think about the Ahmedabad library? Is it luminous?
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Thanks for this summary. As a art history teacher when I talk about models and influences in architecture styles such as, for example, High Tech, Organicism, Deconstructivism… these buildings are good examples.
And another thing, thanks very much for sharing this !!!
… se dice: “El claustro de alumnos/profesores hoy dia es el mundo”
Y dijo Lucio Aenneo Séneca hace ya unos siglos en época romana: “Si me ofreciesen la sabiduría con la condición de guardarla para mí sin comunicarla a nadie, no la querría”.
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Thanks so much for your insight and for bringing in your point of view as a teacher. We will have to wait some time to figure out what are the results from this buildings in terms of usability!
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Great post, Virginia! Have you ever seen photos of the undergraduate library at UCSD? Fascinating design. About twenty years ago I got the chance to be on campus for a few days. The library was really cool.
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I have never visited the library, definitely on my list. So many wonderful buildings to visit. What did you think of it? it looks awesome 😀
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I guess it is called The Geisel Library, after Dr. Suess.https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5e/84/ed/5e84ed6e5973ae9bef33826b43b206ce.jpg
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I can see why heheh 😉
Such a cool concept, a bit weird that it increases its mass volume when going up. It’s normally the other way round!
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If you ever visit Los Angeles, I recommend visiting the William H. Hannon Library on the Loyola Marymount University campus. It is situated on the edge of a bluff and has a circular view of Los Angeles.
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