2 ms·

What are the greatest libraries / reading spaces of the western world today?

• outime 3y ago
  Oodi in Helsinki is a quite interesting concept, although not the best if you want to be in complete silence.
  • Paul-Craft 3y ago
    Funny, I would have thought if anyone valued a quiet space to read without being bothered, it'd be the Finns. Looking at the pics on Wikipedia[0] though, it does look like there are some quieter spaces one can duck into. From what's pictured in the wiki article, it does look more like a tech company office crossed with a community center than a public library to me. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Central_Library_Oodi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Central_Library_Oodi
    • Gravityloss 3y ago
      Snohetta's design looks quite similar to Oodi in places, I must say. It's just a lot bigger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Central_Library_Oodi#/media/File:Central_Library_Oodi_in_Helsinki_04.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Central_Library_Oodi#...
• sandspar 3y ago
  The British Library, maybe, famous as being the haunt of Karl Marx, as well as of Lenin, Bram Stoker, and Arthur Conan Doyle.