IMPOSING LIBRARIES
Added on: 27th Oct 2015
LOS ANGELES CENTRAL LIBRARY, USA
Like the Indianapolis Public Library, the Central Library of Los Angeles
features a striking balance between old and new architecture. The
original library building was completed in 1926 and featured influences
from ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture,
including pyramids and mosaics. A 1993 renovation added a new wing
with Modernist and Beaux-Arts influences, including an eight story
atrium and more storage space for the museum’s ever-growing collection.
These days, the library is the third largest public library in the U.S. and is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
HEARST CASTLE GOTHIC STUDY, USA
Hearst Castle is one of the most famous buildings in California, but
most tour groups miss the opportunity to explore the second story
of the building, which includes a massive guest library and a cosier
gothic library and study. This room also played a vital role in Hearst’s life,
as the mogul preferred to use this room as his executive board room,
doing business here whenever possible.
SKYWALKER RANCH LIBRARY, USA
If you ever happen to get access to California's Skywalker Ranch,
make sure you get a chance to look at the library, which is crowned
with a 40-foot stained glass dome that allows employees and guests of
Lucas Studios to enjoy their reading in natural light.
SUZZALLO LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, USA
This Collegiate Gothic building was completed in 1923 and among
its many impressive details are 18 terra-cotta figures set atop the
buttresses featuring academic heroes such as Louis Pasteur, Dante,
Shakespeare, Plato, Benjamin Franklin, Sir Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci,
Galileo, Gutenberg, Beethoven, Darwin, and more. Inside, a series of
shields depict the coats of arms from many top universities around the
world, including Yale, Oxford, Stanford and Uppsala. While the library
is home to many rare volumes, the most famous item in its collection
is one of the world’s largest, a photo book of Bhutan by Michael Hawley.
Library staff turn the pages about once a month so interested
viewers can slowly enjoy the entire work from front to back
assuming they visit regularly.
FISHER FINE ARTS LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA, USA
In 1888, most architects were focused on Romanesque styles built
with marble and granite. But this library’s architect, Frank Furness,
wanted the building to reflect the architectural style of Philadelphia’s
many red brick factories. Throughout the following years it received
a number of additions and alterations and finally, in 1962, most of the
school’s collection was moved to a new location and the former main
building became the home to the fine arts library.
DAVID SASSOON LIBRARY, INDIA
Completed in 1870, the David Sassoon Library is one of only 145
monuments protected by India’s government, and the oldest library
in Mumbai. One of its most famous features is the beautiful garden
in the back—a rare sight in the commercial area in which it is located.
The library and reading room were originally intended to be an
entire institute dedicated to mechanics, science and technology, but
funding ran short. The Sassoon Mechanic’s Institute was renamed the
David Sassoon Library and Reading Room after its primary donor.
RAZA LIBRARY, INDIA
The Raza Library in Rampur was completed in 1904, and was once part
of a palace. While many of the royal family’s other properties have been
left to crumble, the library is still protected by the Indian government,
another one of the country’s few protected monuments. The royal family
started gathering works for the library way back in 1774. Included in their
collection are 17,000 rare manuscripts, 205 hand-written palm leaves
and 5000 miniature paintings.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CHINA
If you’re looking for info on China’s ancient history, the National Library
of China’s old buildings might be a good place to start. They serve as
the home to a vast array of historical and ancient books and manuscripts,
even inscribed tortoise shells. And though the buildings themselves are
designed in a traditional Chinese style, they were only completed in 1987.
NAKANOSHIMA LIBRARY, JAPAN
This Neo-Baroque design might not be something you’d immediately
associate with Japan, but the 1904 Nakanoshima Library actually fits in
quite well in Osaka, as the area has quite a few other stone-walled
buildings with similar architecture. This building, complete with a copper
roof dome (not visible in the exterior image above), is certainly
one of the most stunning.
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