Libraries are not just buildings that house books, but great centers that ensure access to knowledge, create community, and fight against discrimination. In many cases, they are also architectural gems, not only on an aesthetic level. Besides providing visual pleasure, they are designed with the users in mind, aiming to be a place where people always want to be, with an eye towards the future.
Gabriel García Márquez Library
Chosen as the best public library in the world in 2023 by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the García Márquez Library was the largest volume of visible wood in Europe at the time of its construction. Thanks to this material, it is five times lighter than if it were made of concrete, in addition to consuming less energy.
The building rises six floors, the solution with which the SUMA Arquitectura team compensated for the limited construction area, and it resembles a stack of books. Large windows bathe the interior in light, featuring a large open courtyard, a striking staircase, and various comfortable and cozy corners where you can sit to read or work.
Stuttgart City Library
At the Stuttgart City Library in Germany, books add color and create small pathways through the large white structure of the building. Inaugurated in 2011 and designed by Yi Architects, the building, with a total area of 20,000 m2, is cube-shaped and consists of eleven floors (two of them underground).
The most iconic images of the library show its interior with random staircases that force you to walk through some hallways and browse shelves before going up or down to the next floor. At night, the glass bricks on the facade are illuminated in different colors.
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Beijing City Library
The striking design of this library, created by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta, aims to emulate nature, giving people passing through the feeling of reading under a tree. The library is 22 meters high, and its main hall is a forest formed by tall white columns supporting the roof.
Curved lines and spacious areas, which allow you to lift your eyes from the book and look into the distance, are two of the building’s main features.
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If you liked this article, don’t miss our report analyzing the architecture of libraries.
