Marvel (quietly) at the top eight most beautifully designed libraries
A good book and a beautiful library certainly sounds like a match made in heaven to us.
You can dream on, with these eight libraries recognised in the 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards. Just dream quietly please.
SEE ALSO: 20 stunning editions of classic books you'll want to add to your library
Awarded by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Library Association (ALA), the program encourages and recognises excellence in the architectural design of libraries.
Projects can be located anywhere around the world, but only those designed by an architect licensed in the U.S. can be submitted in the competition.
Still, these libraries are worth marvelling (quietly) at. Ah, we can almost hear the beautiful silence.
Boston Public Library, Central Library Renovation
Image: Bruce T. Martin Photography
Image: Bruce T. Martin Photography
The central branch of the Boston Public Library received renovations throughout the last two years, transforming one wing of the library from a stone bunker originally constructed in 1895 to a light-filled space that opens up to a newly-built public plaza.
Columbus Metropolitan Library – Whitehall
Image: © FEINKNOPF PHOTOGRAPHY/BRAD FEINKNOPF
Image: © FEINKNOPF PHOTOGRAPHY/BRAD FEINKNOPF
Filled with natural light, the library on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio is as much a community venue as it is a place of knowledge. The inside is a large rectangular space which accommodates bookshelves, an area for teenagers and children, public computers and a quiet room.
East Boston Branch Library
Image: ROBERT BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Image: robert benson photography
A "one room" concept, East Boston's new library features separate areas for adults, teens and children without splitting these groups into separate rooms. The undulating roof lets in just the right amount of sunlight over the airy column-free reading room.
National Library of Latvia
Image: david oldham
Image: david oldham
A new library spanning more than 600,000 square feet (182,000 square metres), Latvia's National Library was designed to store, preserve and make accessible the country's cultural heritage. Here state-of-the-art technology makes digitisation and storage easier, with building making its mark on Riga's skyline.
New York Public Library, Stapleton Branch Renovation and Expansion
Image: NAHO KUBOTA
Image: naho kubota
An expansion of a single-room library, this branch library in Stapleton, Staten Island has been given an upgrade to better suit the needs of the local community. The library's exposed wood structure is certainly warm and alluring, melding together new and old buildings.
Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center, New Orleans
Image: TIMOTHY HURSLEY
Image: Timothy hursley
Located in New Orleans' Broadmoor neighbourhood, the library is a symbol of the community's recovery following Hurricane Katrina. It stands in an area earmarked for green space by a former city mayor, if not for the efforts of residents to ensure their local library was rebuilt.
University of Oregon Allan Price Science Commons & Research Library Remodel/Expansion
Image: Christian Columbres
Image: Christian Columbres
Designed with the input of students from the University of Oregon, the underground library was remodelled to maximise the amount of natural light that could flow below. The library's print collection was downsized to increase communal space, as student interaction became a priority.
Varina Area Library, Virginia
Image: CHRIS CUNNINGHAM PHOTOGRApHY
Image: Chris cunningham photography
Formerly a private residence, the Varina Area Library serves a primarily rural community. Much of its surrounding landscaping has been left untouched, with a floor plan designed to maximise the view of the land around the building.
Libraries: Long may they receive funding and thrive.
