#lovely libraries

Tongling New Library, yue-design.  Photo courtesy of yue-design

“During the day, the invitation becomes more pronounced when two of the walls pivot open like the covers of a book, welcoming people inside or to gather around the front. Visitors can take or leave something to read, or lounge quietly on the built-in seating and read. Groups of students can collect around outside for story time with their teacher. At night, when the doors are locked, recessed, energy efficienct LED lights, powered by concealed, self-sustaining solar panels on the roof, glow through the lattice work like a lantern, providing ambience for night markets or community events.” 

Story Pod, Atelier Kastelic Buffey.  Photos © Shai Gil (top) and Bob Gundu.

National Library of Public Information, J. J. Pan & Partners.  Photo courtesy of JJPan.

Maison de la littérature Library, Québec. Image © Olivier Martel Savoie, @une_olive

BC Architects, Library of Muyinga, 2012, Burundi, Africa

“In a very informal and oral Burundian culture, deaf children are excluded from stories, information, exchange, education. Often, deaf children are isolated, or even expelled from a certain group of people. The library of Muyinga, linked to an inclusive boarding school for deaf children, creates the possibility to belong to a group, to belong to the wider community of Muyinga through public infrastructure as the first of its kind in Muyinga.” 

Library at the Benedictine Monastery of Admont — Admont, Austria