Discover book mountain in spijkenisse, netherlands. The book platforms are connected via wide stairs and together form a continuous route to the peak, which features a cafe. Book mountain is a fourstory complex of bookshelves encased in a pyramid of glass. Under a glass ceiling, the building features a striking volume of shelves, a true book mountain. Mvrdvs book mountain and library quarter is a 10year in the making eco development in spijkenisse in the netherlands. Mvrdvs book mountain is a new eco library that proudly stands in the heart of spijkenisse and is surrounded by the old town and a new housing project.
Designed by mvrdv which was the cause of some controversy a couple of years back when plans were released for its cloud skyscraper, book mountain in spijkenisse near rotterdam features a huge. The book mountain spijkenisse by mvrdv becomes a book. Taking the form of a mountain of books on the towns market square, spijkenisses new library is both an advertisement and an invitation for reading. Book mountain spijkenisse, netherlands atlas obscura. Johnston building gould evans architects selected projects. New library from 2012 basically a pile of books covered by a 26m high glass pyramid. From the nearby market square, the glassenclosed, pyramid roof structure gives you a glimpse of the mountain of books inside, with corridors and platforms providing a 480metre pathway along the shelves that reach almost to the roof and. It features a coffee shop, an information desk, a rooftop lounge and quiet seating areas throughout its terraces. Reconnect with the physical text world architecture news.
Breathtaking book mountain library opens for business. Dutch architecture studio mvrdv have just completed a new 9,300 square metre library in spijkenisse, a small city close to rotterdam, the netherlands. You can literally walk among this mountainous construction to make for a magical library experience that enhances the research and reading. Book shelves out of reach play an important visual role, housing the libraries archive. Book mountain spijkenisse biography of a building mvrdv.
The architecture firm mrvdv has built a mountain of a library in spijkenisse, the netherlands. Close to the port of rotterdam docks, mvrdv has completed the spijkenisse book mountain, a public library in spijkenisses market square. The book mountain library is part of a threephase regeneration project which involved the rehabilitation of its commercial and civic centres. Mvrdv completes book mountain and library quarter spijkenisse. Biography of a building by nicoline baartman, winy maas mvrdvnai010 publishers, 20 hardcover, 260 pages booklength case studies of buildings are great for giving more space than a monograph or magazine in explaining the history, design, realization, and in some cases postoccupancy of a particular building. Taking the form of a mountain of books on the towns market square, spijkenisse s new library is both an advertisement and an invitation for reading. Located in spijkenisse, the netherlands the book mountain by mvrdv is a truly unconventional library. Featuring a huge glass and timber outer shell, this astounding library is a tiered, fivestory structure similar to a. The book is the second in a new experimental series created by mvrdv describing, in considerable detail, the complex process of realising a building from start to finish. The pitched roof refers back to traditional dutch farm houses, a reminder of the new towns. Construction has begun on a public library designed by dutch firm mrvdv in spijkenissse, the netherlands. Mvrdv, book mountain, spijkenisse, the netherlands as electronic books and portable tablet computers multiply, the physical book would appear to be threatened. The pitched roof references traditional dutch farmhouses, a reminder of the.
This biography of the book mountain paints a picture of the town of spijkenisse and the political and social contexts in which such buildings are realized. Presented every two years to an exemplary architecture project in the european union, the highly regarded prize celebrates the contribution of. Today, november 27th, mvrdvs new publication book mountain spijkenisse biography of a building will be presented. Today spijkenisse book mountain and the adjacent residential neighbourhood will be opened by prinses laurentien of the netherlands. Mvrdv s book mountain is a building with a mission. Book mountain in spijkenisse netherlands by mvrdv architec. A physical invitation to read and a reference to the past of spijkenisse as a farming town these elements are combined in the library designed by mvrdv.
Underneath the glass is a public space without air conditioning. With its impressive height, the shelving inside this pyramid construction is any bookworms dream. These book platforms are connected by wide flights of stairs and together form a continuous route of 480 meters around the mountain, reaching to its peak, where a. In the first of a series of movies profiling buildings by mvrdv, architect and studio cofounder winy maas looks back at book mountain a. The different floors to access the mountain of books are all connected by open. Mvrdv developed a toolbox of ideas as part of the resilient by design bay area challenge citydoctors who recycle buildings we see ourselves as city doctors, helping municipalities all over the world to change public spaces, reinvigorate disused buildings and revive neighborhoods.
Book mountain library, spijkenisse, the netherlands flickr. Gallery of mvrdvs book mountain wins prestigious red dot design award 1 image 1 of 4 from gallery of mvrdvs book mountain wins prestigious red dot design award. Stacking the buildings various functions produces its pyramidal form, which in turn is wrapped in 480 meters of bookshelves and reading spaces. Today spijkenisse book mountain and the adjacent residential neighbourhood will be opened by.
The bell jar is a simple membrane, an almost invisible envelope that softens the edges of the building. Close to the port of rotterdam docks, mvrdv has completed the spijkenisse book mountain, a public library in spijkenisse s market square. Book mountain spijkenisse, the netherlands mvrdv designed this unique building near rotterdam with 9,300 square meters of glass, stairs, and reading material culminating into a wide open reading space at the top, to challenge the intimidating stuffiness of libraries of old. Architect winy maas from mvrdv markthal in rotterdam designed by the same firm. Rotterdams market hall, the crystal houses in amsterdam, the book mountain public library in spijkenisse, the glass farm in schijndel, the taipei twin. Following the maximum permitted volume the book mountain is covered by a barn shaped glass envelope with wooden trusses resulting in a transparent almost open air library.
The terraces are linked by staircases to form a route that curves around the mountain to the top, where a panoramic view of spijkenisse awaits. Book mountain is a monument to the power and pleasure of reading. Spijkenisse book mountain has been announced winner of a red dot design award, one of the worlds most acclaimed design awards. The book mountain is covered by a glass shell, creating a bell jar, an openair library. Mvrdv designed this unique building near rotterdam with. Spijkenisse bibliotheek, rotterdam, the netherlands design by mvrdv. Winy maas schijndel, the netherlands, 1959 is a cofounder and principal architect of mvrdv, an interdisciplinary studio that works at the intersection of architecture and urbanism. Book mountain spijkenisse bibliotheek spijkenissse. It features a 480 meter route, lined with bookshelves. Mvrdv designed this unique building near rotterdam with 9,300. Mvrdv book mountain spijkenisse biography of a building. This new library for spijkenisse is designed as an advertisement for reading, its visibility and inviting. Karel doormansraat 3, 3201 ce spijkenisse, the netherlands.