© Ossip van Duivenbode
At first, books were kept in chests but as they became published in bulk they moved into the cupboard. The doors came off and the bookcase began to evolve. Today, bookcases can be integral architectural elements that shape space and, in some cases, even light. In celebration of International Day of the Book on April 23rd, ArchDaily compiled this round-up of architecturally, innovative bookcases.
Scroll down to see inventive architectural book storage from Alberto Kalach, ARCHSTUDIO, Toyo Ito, and more.
Jose Vasconcelos Library / Alberto Kalach
Courtesy of Alberto Kalach
Tianjin Binhai Library / MVRDV + Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute
© Ossip van Duivenbode
Underground Forest in Onepark Gubei / Wutopia Lab
© CreatAR – AI Qing & SHI Kaicheng
Beyazıt State Library / Tabanlioglu Architects
© Emre Dörter
Tama Art University Library / Toyo Ito & Associates
© Iwan Baan
Bookshelf House / Shinsuke Fujii Architects
© Tsukui Teruaki
Altlife Bookstore in Ningbo / Kokaistudios
© Dirk Weiblen
Tongling New Library / yue-design
Courtesy of yue-design
Rong Bao Zhai Coffee Bookstore / ARCHSTUDIO
© WANG Ning archstudio coffee
CREC Sales Pavilion & Library / Van Wang Architects
Courtesy of Van Wang Architects
Conarte Bookstore / Anagrama
© Estudio Tampiquito
Haitang Villa / ARCHSTUDIO
© Magic Penny archstudio
The City of the Books and the Images / Taller 6A
© Jaime Navarro
Story Pod / Atelier Kastelic Buffey
© Shai Gil
Eaves House / mA-style architects
© Kai Nakamura
Enclave Book Pavilion / Aether Architects
© Zhang Chao