idea store
| August 01, 2007

A brilliant concept in modern library design (if one can solely classify it as such) in London is known as the "Idea Store".

It's basically the process of taking the design typologies of the library, café, community center, and university… throwing them all into a blender… and pressing frappe.

Or as they put it "…an ideal place to browse and borrow books, read a newspaper or magazine, learn new skills, surf the net or to relax and meet friends over a coffee in a fun and stimulating environment."

While some 21st Century libraries are gaining environments similar to this ie: Rem Koolhaas and the Seattle Central Library, this concept goes beyond the architecture itself and dives into the successful use of social space. I certainly hope this will appear in US cities soon.

(photo credit: architecture.com)

Link:  idea store

Tags:  architecture, community, design