Rotterdam-based MVRDV has recently completed a beautiful architectural design “Book mountain and Library Quarter” located in the market square of Spijkenisse, Netherlands.
The library features bookshelves enclosed in a glass pyramid, with the platforms connected via wide stairs to form a continuous route of 480 meters around the mountain to its peak where a cafe offers panoramic views over the town. Underneath its glass dome, sunlight damage to the books is off-set by their normal 4 year life-span due to wear and tear from borrowing. The exterior of the building refers to a traditional dutch barn style typology, as a memento to the agricultural history of Spijkenisse village.
The new public library is part of a larger plan to strengthen and intensify the town center. MVRDV have also designed the neighboring development of 42 houses for a local housing corporation. The apartments inside the plan vary strongly in size, from studio apartments to housing fit for large families, attracting a more diverse urban population.
