Here’s another cool thing in London. The National Art Library has a temporary giant bookcase construction filling void created by the building’s spiral staircase.
from the architects:
Situated by the V&A
s National Art Library, this freestanding wooden tower re-evaluates the concept of the
archive
. Its walls are made up of hundreds of shelves, holding thousands of second-hand books. Accessed via a spiral staircase, each floor includes a secluded reading chamber. Positioned to face inwards, the book spines form an exterior fa
ade of monotonous white, whereas the interior view consists of a rich collage of colours and typographic textures.
Rintala Eggertsson Architects, Oslo and Bod
, Norway
For one, I didn’t even know the V&A HAD an art library (The National Art Library, actually). I wrote a review of the V&A last year and the fact I didn’t know about the National Art Library actually supports the main argument I made in the review.
But back to the bookcase, or “Ark” as it’s called. The bones on this structure are great. You actually can walk and climb inside this thing. There’s a couple reading benches. Supposedly they let three people in at a time.
Check out more really cool photos at designboom and more at archdaily.
This is one of seven pieces that were constructed as part of the “1:1 architects build small spaces exhibition” at the V&A. The show goes through August 30, 2010.
photo by pasi aalto courtesy rintala eggertsson architects