Book repositories are fantastic places for both children and adults to come and expand their minds and imagination, and these contemporary libraries are making the experience of reading a new book much more alluring.
While libraries are wonderful places where you can stay to read a novel or simply borrow one to take back home, they are often regarded as mundane and visually unattractive structures. These contemporary libraries however, are revolutionizing the way people ordinarily see these buildings by transforming them into unique shapes and modern designs. Featuring all sorts of inventive qualities such as vibrant geometric shapes, futuristic designs and interactive elements, these contemporary libraries are encouraging a whole new generation of people to be more interested in literature and reading.
From pop-up seaside libraries to digital subway concepts, these contemporary structures are showcasing that reading books should certainly not be considered an outdated activity.
66 Contemporary Libraries
From Glass Box Libraries to Eco-Friendly Book Dwellings:
Tana Makmanee — Oct 29, 2013 — Art & Design
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Landscape-Blended Architecture
The 'Liyuan Library' Fuses Nature and Man-Made Structure
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Strung-Up Libraries
The Bloom Bookcase Arranges Reading Materials Along Red Threads
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Literary Feature Walls
Library House Was Designed Around the Necessity for Expansive Book Storage
62
Celebrity Home Libraries
Judy Berman Photographs Libraries of the Rich and Famous
61
Petite Pop-up Libraries
This Tiny Reading Station is Only Big Enough for One
60
Boxy Hilltop Libraries
The A+P House by Bauart Architects is located in Meilen, Switzerland
59
Modern Breezy Wooden Residences
Malcolm Davis Architecture's Wooden Houses are Airy and Bright
58
Innovative Book Shelves
Creative Home Libraries
57
Slide-Dividing Libraries
Korean Architects 'Moon Hoon' Offers a Playful Room to Read Books
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Literary Spaceship Architecture
The Dalian Public Library is Inspired by a Rose Petal
55
Led-Lit Libraries
The Castro Leal Library Uses Diode Lighting
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Glass Box Libraries
The Bloor/Gladstone Library is an Incredible Use of Glass
53
Divine-Inspired Book Houses
The Laurentius Library Has the Shape and Hue of an Angel's Halo
52
Book-Encasing Pyramids (UPDATE)
The Book Mountain by MVRDV is a Librarian Marvel
51
Showy Red Reading Rooms
The New University Library at the University of Amsterdam
50
Mind-Bending Surrealist Libraries
Avondale Heights Library Offsets Simple Design with Bold Colors
49
Scannable Subway Libraries
The Physical Digital Library in Bucharest Subway Lets Passengers Read
48
Outdoor Book Rooms
The 24 Hour Library and Community Space in Magdeburg, Germany
47
Non-Linear Libraries
The Sacred Heart Primary School Library by Suters Architects is Inventive
46
Digital Subway Libraries
New York Commuters Tap into the Digital Subway Library for Free Reads
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Book-Lending Trucks
The Productora A47 Mobile Library Comes to You
44
Futuristic Looped Libraries
Bjarke Ingels Group Wins Competition to Design Astana National Library
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Eco-Friendly Temporary Libraries
The 'SUTD Library Pavilion' is Recyclable and Modern
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Green Pop-Up Libraries
Latvia's Story Tower is Made Using Local Wood and Recycled Juice Cartons
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Oblique Boxy Libraries
BookCaseScreenWall Provides a Slanted and Pixelated Display of Publications
40
Tetris-Inspired Libraries
Contertainer is a Health and Learning Center for the Public
39
Crane-Powered Book Repositories
The James B. Hunt Library bookBot is a Robotic Delivery Service
38
Domed Ceiling Bookshelves
The Wade Davis Writing Studio Boasts a Sky-High Library
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Open Air Libraries
This Incredible Karo Architekten Design is a Public Repository Like No Other
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Phone Booth Libraries
Community-Run 24-Hour Micro Library in Somerset
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Latticed Libraries
University of Helsinki City Campus Library by Anttinen Oiva Architects is Swank
34
Bookworm Accommodations
The 'Library Resort' in Koh Samui is Meant for Book-Lovers
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Bookstore-Inspired Libraries
The Almere Library Incorporates Retail Details
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Outdoor Reading Retreats
Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter Creates the “Read-Nest Cabin”
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Striking Bookworm Heavens
Libraries With Stunning Architecture Around the World
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Portable Portuguese Libraries
The Reading Cabin is a Rustic Literary Hideaway
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Sustainable Book Repositories
The 'Winds of Change Library' Blows Away Its Predecessors
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Converted Library Abodes
The Elena Garro Cultural Center Boasts An Inventive Remodel Concept
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Modern Libraritecture
TANK Architects Constructs 21st Century Literary Havens
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Infinite Virtual 3D Libraries
Google WebGL Bookcase is a Never-Ending Helix of Titles
25
Expansive Wine Libraries
The BvS Wine Traders Shop Archives Spirit Selection
24
Brick-Resembling Libraries
The Katowice Library by HS99 Towers With Academic Grandiosity
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Contemporary Reference Centers
The Alphabet Library by Stephane Hof Looks Like a Big Kitchen
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Layered Library Concepts
The Ghirardelli Achitetti Concept for Daegu Gosan Unfolds Gradually
21
Organically Frothy Libraries
'Biodigital Processes in Architecture' Promotes Calm Creativity
20
Podlike Literature Buildings
Stockholm Public Library is All About Infinite Space
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Mini Park Libraries
Fundalectura Creates PPP Program to Give Columbians Access to Books
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Spherical Repository Abodes
The Oil Silo Home is Designed for a Post-Natural Gas World
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Pop-Up Seaside Libraries
Matali Crasset's Beach Library Concept Features 300 Titles to Choose From
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Green-Roofed Repositories
The Ballard Library Will Grow on You
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Caged Cultural Centers
The Daegu Library is an Encased Sanctuary for Community and Learning
14
Glow-in-the-Dark Libraries
The Exterior of the Aberdeen University Library Responds to Light
13
River Rock Book Repositories
Novel Sustainable Construction at the Villanueva Public Library
12
Suspended Tree Libraries
The Livre Exchange by House Works Promotes Free Access to Reading
11
Stunning Open-Shelved Spaces
Chile's Taltal Public Library is Full of Natural Light
10
Symmetrical Library Hyperphotos
Bibliotheques Ideales by JF Rauzier is Realistically Surreal
9
Mobile Sketchbook Libraries
'The Sketchbook Project' Aims to Lend Art to Others on New Summer Tour
8
Eco-Friendly Book Dwellings
The Battery Park Library by 1100 Architects
7
Reading Towers
MVRDV Creates 'Book Mountain' For Transparent Literature
6
Displaced Outdoor Libraries
Bookyard by Massimo Bartolini Turns a Grassy Field into a Book Store
5
Literary Ecotecture
The UNStudio Waalse Krook Library Will be a Green Haven
4
People-Lending Libraries
The Surrey City Centre Library to Offer 'Living Books' to the Public
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Eco-integrated Libraries
The Alberto Kalach Library Blends Nature and Literature
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Free Cultural Libraries
UNESCO, Library of Congress, and Others Launch World Digital Library
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Futuristic Eco Libraries
The Waalse Krook Library is a Sleekly Modern and Green Repository
Related Ideas
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Modernized Modular LP Players
found/Founded Designs the Controlled Vibrary Digital LP Player
Mental Health-Friendly Homes
Hong Kong's Playpod Sanctuary is Functional and Healing
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Concept Perfume Stores
Lush's Perfume Library Provides Consultations with Fragrance Experts
Literature-Inspired Packaging Designs
Bennet's Good to Read Packs are Informative
Philanthropy-Inspired Collections
The I’m Library People Initiative Encourages Holiday Giving
AI-Powered Choose-Your-Own Adventure Books
Playbrary GPT Merges Literature with Gaming
Twisting Donut-Shaped Bookshelves
The Hullabaloo Bookshelf by Deniz Aktay is Perplexing
Eco-Friendly Offices
Office@27 by Sanjay Puri Architects is Enhanced by Ancient Indian Principles
Bookshelf Board Games
These Classic Board Games are Disguised as Vintage Books
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Modern Bookworm-Inspired Capsules
Indigo Debuts its Book Club Collection
Book-Inspired Public Benches
Madrid City Council Launched the Sit Down to Read 2024 Campaign
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Modular Cat Trees
The PETLIBRO INFINITY Cat Tree Supports Comfort, Relaxation & Play
Upcycled Book-Made Marbled Furniture
Willem Zwiers Designs the Tranformed Remnants Series
Modular Configured Office Furniture
SKNYPL Presents the CABINET+ Series of Furniture
Minimalist Book Storage Tables
The 'Pocket' Coffee Table by Deniz Aktay is Split Open
Colorful Educational Art Installations
Mario Cucinella Architects Displays Sparking Change
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Abstract Triangular Side Tables
The Triangle Side Table from SouleWork Holds Books and More
Stunning Mid-Century Coastal Homes
Design Theory Updates a House from the 1960s
Electronic 3D Book Concepts
The bbook Concept is Designed for the Visually Impaired
Vibrant Inclusive Playground Exhibitions
Wade and Leta Presents the Falling Into Place Exhibition
Contemporary Backyard Pavilions
AMDLD Circle Designs the Cosmo Pavilion for Ethimo
Sliding Wintery Landscape Bookshelves
This Manhwabang Bookshelf by Jisu Kim is Whimsical
Transparent Climate Classrooms
Forma Transforms a Century-old Glasshouse in Copenhagen
Everyday Material Colorful Pavilions
Foster + Partners and NEON Create Two Pavilions in London
Pared-Back Coffee Interiors
Keiji Ashizawa Has Ccreted a Minimalist Blue Bottle Coffee Shop
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
Curved Translucent Experimental Apartments
NEUHÄUSL HUNAL Designs the Sculptor's Apartment
Inclusive Independent Bookstores
Good Books in Cornwall, New York is Community-Focused
Lush Surroundings Glass Homes
Room 11 Designs the Glass House in Koonya Overlooking the Bay
Detailed Ceramic Book Vases
Biblio Bloom Vases are Inspired by Timeless Literary Classics
Comfort-Enhancing Office Spaces
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs the Relaxound Office
Book-Themed Collectibles
Booksy's Tiny Books & Figures Inspire a Love of Reading in Kids
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Historic Book Store Anniversaries
San Francisco Bookstore William Stout Celebrates 50 Years
Avant-Garde Coffee Table Books
New Society Hosts 'Decentralization, Please Save Culture' Event
Vibrant Adaptable Workplaces
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs a Modern Workspace for Relaxound
Chic Modern-Industrial Buildings
YN Studio Designs a Slick Facade in Gillett Square
Bookstore Wine Shops
New York's Bibliotheque Offers Rare Books and Great Wine
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Mobile Reading Accessories
Astropad's New 'Bookcase' Aims to Enhance Mobile Reading Comfortability
Modular Modern Wooden Bookshelves
Kengo Kuma Designs the Marumarushikaku Shelf for More Trees
Swooped Museum Roof Planes
BIG Designs the Waterfront Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art
Modern Office Environments
The MOL Campus Project Was Designed by Architecture Firm Kinzo
Toy Block-Inspired Wooden Bookshelves
Waiting Woood Designs the New Rotating Picture Book Rack
Sustainable Furniture Capsule Shops
Light and Dwell Open up a Store of Furniture Designs
Micro-City Housing Nooks
Notan Office Transforms an Industrial Site in Brussels
L-Shaped Stacked Shelving
The LOFT Shelf for GOODS Can be Assembled at Various Heights
Striking Glass Canopy Designs
Heatherwick Studio is Redeveloping Olympia in London, United Kingdom
Repurposed Brick Public Furniture
Akasaki Vanhuyse's FLOAT Bench is Intriguing & Eco-Friendly
Transformed Historic Bank Buildings
Ivy Studio Overhauls the Interior of a Historic Building
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Vaulted Glass Structure Additions
A Vaulted Roof is Added to the Domino Sugar Refinery
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Community-Centric Office Spaces
Shubin Donaldson Architects Designs the Tricon Residential Office
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Affordable Social Housing Campuses
Studio Libeskind Creates The Atrium at Sumner Houses
Futuristic Vibrant London Apartments
2LG Studio Designs a Vibrant Apartment in East London
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Dynamic Immersive Play Museums
LEGO Group Presents the Superhero Studios Initiative in Paris
Personalized Book Boxes
Aardvark Book Club Offers Exclusive Hardcovers for Book Lovers
Women's Literature-Inspired Skincare Stores
Aesop Boasts a Women's Literature Library
Library-Converted Modern Sheds
The Act of Quad Creates the Light Box in Mumbai, India
Recycling-Centric Waterfront Homes
Measured Architecture Designs the Shor House Project
Rustic Ruin-Inspired Aquariums
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio Designs The Sea of Cortez Research Center
Geometric Prefabricated Pavilions
Heams & Michel Architectes Presents the 7 Kiosks Project
Futuristic Curved Islandic Homes
The Collective Studio Co., Ltd Designs the Nest Residence
Contemporary Modern Artful Homes
Clara Lleal INTERIORISTA Designs the Art Gallery House
Tea-Honoring Angular Libraries
Atelier Xi Designs the Interconnected Library and Tea Rooms
Block Puzzled Book Nooks
The LEGO Book Nook is a Novelty Miniature Buildable Diorama
Minimalist Bird-Watching Pavilions
Jesús Vassall & Graduate Students Designed a Slick Pavilion
Concrete Boxes-Overlapping Homes
FujiwaraMuro Architects Designs the House in Tsurumi-ku
Natural Japanese Art Galleries
Brazil's Yayoi Kusama Gallery Features a Nature-Inspired Design
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
AI-Generated Bookstores
BookBud.ai Launched a First-of-Its-Kind Bookstore and Library Hybrid
Brutalist Concrete Tower Apartments
Archmongers Renovates the Trellick Tower in London
Comprehensive Gallery Renovations
Carmody Groarke Releases Plans for the Dulwich Picture Gallery
Doll-Inspired Modern Installations
Nina Tolstrup Creates The Pavilions of Wonder Series in London
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Compact Calming Homes
Batay-Csorba Architects Masterfully Designed a Modern Brick Home in Toronto
Book Pile Retail Decor
A London Aesop Store Gets a New Decor Definition by Sebastian Cox
Wood-Wrapped Contemporary Libraries
The Graded School Library is Integrated Inside a School
Sustainably Crafted Pavilions
Shigeru Ban Introduces the Paper Log House in the Glass House
Experimental Cuboid Exhibition Spaces
Sār Unveils the Experimental Sār Residence by Girish Doshi
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Solo Flexible Study Spaces
YounghanChung Architects Designs the Tiny Forest Study Space
Clover-Style Conference Center Designs
MAD Designs the ZGC International Innovation Center
Scientific Communal Museums
Stefano Boeri Architetti Designs the Museum of Technology in Xi'an
Pre-Primary School Extensions
andblack design studio Creates the Cocoon Extension
Textural Brick Structures
Bennetts Associates & Citizens Design Bureau Create BEAM Cultural Center
Geometric African Homes
Gregory Katz Architecture Designs the Great Primary Shapes Home
Inclusive Social Housing Projects
Peris + Toral Arquitectes Design 85 Social Dwellings in Cornellà
Personal Digital Book Libraries
Bookov Lets Readers Create a Digital Personal Library Collection
Traditional Sustainable School Designs
Heatherwick Studio Showcases Plans for Universidad Ean
Poetic Habourfront Nature Centers
3XN Created the Centre for Coastal Nature and Sport Fishing
Curved Stacked Wooden Boxes
Studio Entrandan Designs the Box Set with Wooden Details
Personality-Enhancing Side Tables
The ORDO Book Side Table Features Organized Nooks
Tradition-Focused Digital Libraries
Nestlé Brands Introduced the Living Traditions Library
Nature-Themed Modern Workspaces
The New Natwest Office in London Features Greenery Throughout
Sleek Contemporary Metal-Encased Lamps
The Library Lamp is Reinterpreted with a Modern Flair
Red Concrete Exhibition Centers
Mix Architecture Designs the Red Box Exhibition Center
Arched Concrete Community Centers
Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica Designs a New Center
Modern Deco Office Designs
Reflect Architecture Designs the NewGen Office with Contemporary Detail
Brutalist Converted Learning Centers
Archipelago Transforms a Post Office to a Learning Space
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Modern Museum Versatile Cafes
Tate Modern Unveils a Corner Cafe Designed by Holland Harvey
Lighthouse-Functioning Concrete Structures
Lin Architecture Creates the Concrete Pavilion in China
Tree-Like Library Spaces
Studio Hinge Presents the Forest of Knowledge Library Design
Large Concrete Educational Buildings
Stanton Williams Introduces the UCL East Marshgate Building
Latticed-Steel Transport Hub Columns
Tremend Designs the Metropolitan Station in Lublin
Modern Digitized Bookshelves
September is a Digital Bookshelf Where You Can Display Achievements
Contemporary Art Puzzle Sets
LEGO's Modern Art Building Set is a Great Buildable Decor
Shaded Modern Outdoor Furniture
mmcité street furniture Designs the UFO Shelter for Outdoors
Historic Academy Spatial Bookstores
TAO Designs the Weishan Chongzheng Academy Bookstore
Bright Showroom Research Libraries
ANY Designs a Retail Space for Streetwear Imprint Vowels
Mindful Study Spaces
Chaoffice Embraces Zen-Inspired Design Sensibilities in House Under the Boat
Atrium Stacked Toronto Courthouses
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Creates a Justice Building
Urban Natural Expansive Buildings
Atelier Delalande Tabourin Designs Office National des Forêts
Immersive Virtual Bookstores
Shepherd Let's Book Lovers Browse Virtual Shelves to Discover Books
Script-Covered Library Facades
Snøhetta Completes the Far Rockaway Library in New York
Multifunctional Cross-Disciplinary Buildings
The BLOX Building in Represents Joint Thinking
Paper-Like Art Museum Roofs
BIG Expands the Museum for Paper Art in Denmark with a Folded Roof
Industrial Warehouse-Inspired Offices
Carr Designs a New Office Block with Industrial Themes
Dual Level Concrete Galleries
Morphosis Designs the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas
Barrel Vault-Topped Metro Stations
KA Architecture Studio Designs the Jahad Metro Plaza
Shanghai Marketing Office Refurbishments
Linehouse Renovates an Office for The Independents
Steel Structural Dynamic Workspaces
Skylab Architecture Builds a New Skylab Office in Oregon
Transformed Disused Steelwork Structures
Delugan Meissl Designs Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Minsuk Cho Designs the Archipelagic Void Shelter in London
Dynamic Concrete Modern Buildings
Atelier Matias Mosquera Designs the Shire Building
Metal Sheet-Facade Book Stores
Wutopia Labs Designs the Shanghai Book City with a Dynamic Facade
Artful Dockside Installations
London Festival of Architecture Gets Benches for Pews and Perches
Educational Storage Shed Designs
Invisible Studio and Mole Architects Form the Big Roof
Printing House-Transformed Offices
OFIS Arhitekti Renovates the Mladinska Knjiga Printing House
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Architectural Tranquil Cabin Retreats
Snøhetta Designs the Bolder Lodges in Lysefjord