Around the World / Structures/Monuments
THE MOST UNIQUE LIBRARIES AND
BOOKSTORES AROUND THE GLOBE
“A PLACE ISN’T A PLACE UNTIL IT HAS A BOOKSTORE”
GABRIELLE ZEVIN
Are you an avid reader? Imagine your perfect bookstore. Do you like to
disappear in the symphony of the words of your favourite books? Let me
remind you again that the world is a beautiful place and the moment you
start thinking that there is nothing left in the world to surprise you anymore,
you’ll certainly come across things which will leave you awestruck.
Whether you crave a classic, musty warren or a grand and gleaming
boutique, from Alaska to New Zealand, these ten unusual, magical ,
magnificent and beautiful bookstores and libraries are sure to delight your
inner bibliophile.
1) EPOS – NORWAY
Norway is widely known for its many mountains, its mile long, vivid
coastline and its many fjords. In autumn of 1959, the inhabitants of
Hordaland county was offered their very own book boat. The purpose was
to expand the cultural scene. At that time, the boat was called Abdulla, but
they changed the boat and the name in 1963 into ‘Epos’, creating an even
wider connotation to its purpose. Epos became the floating cultural scene
where books and other events were made available to the people living in
the middle of nowhere. The floating library contains over 4000 books and
audio books and it offers its services to three counties.
2) ACQUA ALTA – VENICE, ITALY
Located just steps from St. Mark’s Square, this self-proclaimed “most
beautiful bookstore in the world” is literally stuffed with books, magazines,
maps, and more throughout its labyrinth of interconnected rooms. To help
protect its inventory from Venice’s constant flooding, this quirky store,
whose name means “Library of High Water,” has found a simple solution:
stack the books in bathtubs, boats, waterproof bins, and even a full-sized
gondola.
3) WEAPON OF MASS INSTRUCTION – ARGENTINA
When you see this mobile library, its name makes sense. The 1979 Ford
Falcon has a tank-inspired frame over it that is literally stuffed with books.
Its creator Raul Lemesoff has driven it all across Argentina, bringing
literature of all genres to small and impoverished towns. The exterior
framework is capable of carrying 900 books.
4) ZHONGSHUGE BOOKSTORE, CHINA
The Zhongshuge Bookstore is nothing short of an optical illusion. With
mirrors extending across the entire ceiling, the bookstore seems like an
infinite mass of books. One of the most creatively designed bookstores; it
can essentially be referred to as a forest of mirrors. Another room in the
bookstore is called the book playground where bookshelves are designed as
different rides in a playground. Awaken your inner child by plucking books
off the Ferris wheel, a train or even a rollercoaster.
5) RIJKSMUSEUM- AMSTERDAM
This marvelous Library, part of the Rijksmuseum, is the largest public art
history research library in the Netherlands. Since 1885 books, catalogues
and annual reports relating to the Rijksmuseum have been collected without
interruption.
6) Selexyz Bookstore (Maastricht, Holland)
Imagine perusing rows of classic books and popular literature under the roof
of a gothic church dating back to 1294. The Selexyz Bookstore, housed
within the 700-year-old Selexyz Dominicanen, seamlessly juxtaposes past
and present and provides one of the most unusual settings for browsing
books and grabbing a coffee. Closed by Napoleon Bonaparte during his
1794 invasion, the church sat abandoned for over two centuries before being
restored to its current glory. The crown jewel in this sacred literature is a
three-story bookshelf complete with ornate walkways and staircases.
7) McAllen Public Library – McAllen, Texas, USA
The MCAllen public Library is an award-winning diverse library system
which was initially a Walmart. The earlier library was getting too small and
hece the civilians came up with an idea and converted the local Walmart
into a library which now houses 14 study rooms, a computer lab and
thousands of books.
8) THE ABBEY BOOKSHOP – PARIS, FRANCE
Housing more than 35000 books, The Abbey Bookshop is a very famous
bookstore located in Paris, France. Started in 1989 by Toronto native Brian
Spence, it is tiny little hole in the wall located in the former Hotel
Dubuisson, an 18th-century protected monument known for its carved doors
and decorative sculptures.
9) Biblioteca Vasconcelos – Mexico City, Mexico
With over 470,000 books, spread over an area of 400,000 square metres,
this library in downtom Mexico city has often been labelled as a
‘megalibrary’. The library is most definitely an arc of knowledge in Mexico
City.
10) House of Books (St. Petersburg, Russia)
With tens of thousand of titles under the roof of one of St. Petersburg’s most
beautiful buildings, this bookstore is a must-see for any literary aficionado.
Housed within the historic Singer House building on Nevsky Prospekt, and
founded in 1919, the House of Books is an icon of Russian cultural heritage
and a beloved landmark in the city. The bookstore, designed by Architect
Pavol Suzer is located in a six-story Art Nouveau-style building, topped by
a glass tower and globe structure by Estonian artist Amandus Adamson.