For bookworms around the world, dreaming of beautiful and grand libraries is a common pastime. Visions of multi-storey libraries, with shelves housing the world’s rarest and largest book collections dance in our heads. One of Context’s coolest projects, the Library District Condominiums, pays homage to the City’s many libraries with its abstract design that mimics books lining their shelf. As lovers of reading and literature, we understand the love for beautiful libraries. Here’s a look at 5 of the most amazing libraries from around the globe.
Trinity College Long Room – Dublin, Ireland
Image via Bob Hurson on Flickr
Housed in Ireland’s oldest University, Trinity College, is the largest library in the country. The Long Room holds the oldest and rarest books of its collection, with over 200,000 volumes being preserved inside. As the largest single-chamber library in the world, there are lots of interesting spines and artifacts to peruse here – including one of Ireland’s (and Guinness’) most famous national emblems: the Briar Boru Harp.
Taipei Public Library – Beitou, Taiwan
Image via Wikimedia Commons
While this library is obviously stunning and home to many wonderful books, what really makes this library so interesting is its incredible eco-friendliness. This was the first building in Taiwan to receive a diamond rating (the highest) from Taiwan’s green building EEWH certification system, making it the country’s most eco-conscious building. It’s made with wood from a sustainably managed forest, makes use of photovoltaic cells to generate power, has an insulating 20 cm layer of soil on the roof, and even uses collected rainwater to flush the toilets. Remarkable!
Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library – New Haven, Connecticut
Image via Lauren Manning on Flickr
This impressive structure recently underwent a $73 million renovation, now boasting a state-of-the-art fire suppression system, and temperature and humidity controls. The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is one of the world’s largest collections of the like, including one of the few remaining and original Gutenberg Bibles. The building makes beautiful use of marble that casts a stunning glow on the six-storey glass-encolsed ‘book tower’, which can hold a whopping 200,000 volumes!
St. Catherine’s Monastery – South Sinai, Egypt
Image via Derek Winterburn on Flickr
St. Catherine’s Monastery is home to the oldest operated library in the world. It was built in roughly 564 A.D. by the order of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. This ancient library holds over 3000 religious and educational manuscripts, and about 8000 printed books, amazingly including first edition works of Homer and Plato.
Liyuan Library – Beijing, China
Image via POET ARCHITECTUR on Flickr
Located in a small village outside Beijing, in a dramatic landscape you’ll find the Liyuan Library. The recent and premiere winner of the Canadian founded Moriyama Prize, this library is incredibly unique. The single-storey structure is modest, but powerful in its design. It blends into its natural and forest surroundings with a glazed shell exterior that has been covered in sticks of firewood and a heavy, timber beam frame. The building is also extremely eco-conscious with its integrated cooling system that pulls cold air from the surface of the surrounding lake and draws it into the building. As well, 99% of the materials used to build the project can be recycled!
