We’re suckers for beautiful libraries here at Flavorpill, as you might have noticed from our lists of beautiful college libraries and beautiful private libraries from all over the world. But public libraries are probably even more important to the culture at large than either of these. Click through to see our choices for the twenty five most beautiful public libraries in the world …
Look which one is No. 2:
Central Public Library, Vancouver, Canada
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Some others that struck me:
The Royal Danish Library (the Black Diamond), Copenhagen, Denmark
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Stuttgart City Library, Stuttgart, Germany
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Villanueva Public Library, Villanueva, Colombia
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José Vasconcelos Library in México City, Mexico
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Amsterdam Public Library
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Old Market Library, Min Buri, Bangkok
I will speak the unspoken elephant that is in the room for readers who may be wondering: Is a physical library still necessary? Yes, but every decade, whenever a library is designed now, needs to ensure the library has flexible physical space and lots of it still. As physical space for exchange of ideas, study, etc.
While yes more books will be only electronic, lots of good stuff will never be converted electronically. Not all of it. (Not even Google will do it.)There’s a serious investment of money, time and effort.
What is interesting, in the featured designs above, captivate and draw in visitors and patrons. But once you’re inside, the library is…generally ordinary space. Vancouver Public Library is terrific, arresting design at the perimeter and atrium areas but directly inside the library, no. A good thing actually from the standpoint of ensuring a library that has functional, flexible space, that it’s not just a book temple.
Love the architectural design for Royal Danish Library. Stuttgart’s is very cold and doubtful people want to work in such a stark place. And for Mexico: Guess one had better not wear dresses too often on those upper floors. Central sculpture is just cool and should have more often feature such sculptures for underused library atrium areas near entrances.
Sorry, for being so practical: from an ex-librarian, by training and profession.