An urban private library October 22, 2012

Good things come in small packages. Look what architect Tim Seggerman came up with as part of a remodel of a tiny New York City apartment. A “library”that is about four feet high, four feet wide, and six feet deep. More images at Dwell

Starbucks goes to the library for a new ‘pop-up’ store in Tokyo October 17, 2012

“Books and coffee are both important parts of everyday life, so we created a link between favorite books and favorite coffees”. Welcome to Starbucks Espresso Journey, a new library-themed pop-up store in Tokyo. Designed by the Japanese firm nendo the store focuses on educating the public on the various coffee offerings of Starbucks. Here’s nendo’s summary of the project: A pop-up shop dedicated to Starbucks’ espresso drinks, in which visitors can learn more about drinks…

For books and other stuff. A multi-purpose folding screen October 10, 2012

Check out this cool contraption for the urban dweller from Argentine designer Leonardo Fortunato. Notice the two brown sections of rectangular boards that become bookshelves with adaptable heights. One of the other sections doubles as a mirror and an ironing board. More at Tree Hugger Multi-Purpose Folding Screen Doubles as Library, Rack, Mirror and Ironing Board : TreeHugger:

The bookshelf takes over the library! October 3, 2012

Here is the redesigned Musashino Art University Library in Tokyo. There are bookshelves everywhere! Designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto who based the project on “a series of independent rectilinear book stacks, dispersed to create a field – or forest – of monolithic blocks. Varying in size, with some large enough to contain essential services and ancillary spaces, the blocks promoted what the architect described as ‘an instinct to wander’, recalling how in his experience libraries are places…

The Alphabet Library September 24, 2012

The library archives of the Department of Pierres Vives in Montpellier, France was in need of a new reading room. And luckily architect Stephane Hof was ready. The design comprises an entrance desk, an information desk, reading room tables and library shelves. Hof “combined the different functions of the program into a single object in order to create a new dialogue between the tables and the library and a continuous flow through the entire space. The…