Archive II: Circular Library

Dig the Archive II! A circular library for the nomad book collector, allowing the user to step inside, and walk away with half a ton of books. Kindle Schmindle - this is brilliant!

From the site:

The Archive Series are investigations on space and books. Its departure point is density and micro spaces, and a series of traditional relationships that humans have to books. Private collections have existed for centuries, but when this is added to nomadic behaviour, curious contradictions arise; this is the area studied by Archive II.

How can an individual travel with it’s own library, given that books are so heavy? This is something we can all relate to when moving house. Archive II is a nomadic library, a transport system and an intimate space. Inspired by ancient travelling libraries from the Far East, which visited courts and cities, Archive II transforms this into a personal space, where walking and reading coexist as refuge and transport.

And yes, this is real and you can have your very own Archive II from the David Garcia Studio.

That's Right,

HMK

Thanks to the smart green thinking folks at Inhabitat.

McNally Jackson Cafe

Wow, really digging the thinking, simplicity and use of materials New York based Front Studio combined for the design and renovation of the McNally Jackson Cafe, part of the McNally Jackson Bookstore in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood.


I'm especially loving the folding single tables running along the wall ingeniously designed and crafted to resemble a folded book when closed.

Outstanding execution! Enjoy: McNally Jackson Cafe.

That's Right,

HMK

Thanks to the smart folks over at The Contemporist.

A Book Store Made in Heaven

Whoever said that reading was a religious experience was right, especially when taking a visit to Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands.

Having just won the Lensvelt de Architect Interior Prize 2007, this newest addition to the Selexyz book chain is well worth the visit to this Medievil city if you are ever in the area.

Erected inside a former 800 year old Dominican church, this bookstore is said to hold the largest stock of books in English in Maastricht, one of the oldest cities in the country.

It was always going to be a challenging task for Amsterdam based architects Merkx + Girod who designed the space, to stay true to the original character and charm of the church, whilst also achieving a desirable amount of commercial space (there was only an available floor area of 750 m2, with a proposed retail space of 1200 m2). Taking advantage of the massive ceiling, both have been achieved through the construction of a multi-storey steel structure which houses the majority of the books. This is one giant bookshelf, with stairs and elevators taking shoppers and visitors alike, up to the heavens (mind the pun), to roof of the church.

That's Right,

HMK

Thanks to The Cool Hunter