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Do you feel at home in your favorite library? The solitude, the endless rows of books and that super cute librarian who always gives you a little wink when you walk past. Your local library may just be your artistic haven, but have you ever wondered what else is out there?
ENTITY’s diverse library list covers elegant, glam and inspirational structures housing textual beauty across the United States. Feel free to scribble some down on your bucket list.
The Geisel Library on the UC San Diego campus is an awe-striking testament to brutalist architecture done right. Its architect, William Pereira, did an outstanding job creating a building that was both visually stunning and functional. Created in 1970, the library was renovated in 1993 and is now dedicated to Audrey and Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss and his wife. As is appropriate, the library contains a Dr. Seuss Collection that includes drawings, notebooks, manuscripts and photographs from Geisel’s successful history of work.
The 11-story glass and steel Seattle Central Library looks like something out of a futuristic mosaic dream. The architects, Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus, flipped the switch on what was expected from typical library design. New York Times article “The Library That Puts on Fishnets and Hits the Disco” describes the Seattle Central Library as “an urban montage of starburst images without a special lens. With a faceted exterior of glass and steel, this is a big rock candy mountain of a building, twinkling in the middle of office buildings.”
On top of that, the building also functions as an actual library. The Seattle Central Library has 400 computers and enough room for 1.45 million books. In short, the library is intriguing, dazzling and operative.
The Salt Lake City Public Library takes its place as one of the most unparalleled pieces of architecture in Utah. The building, which utilizes organic shapes and natural lighting as part of its design, includes a bustling curved entry level full of shops and services. The architect, Moshe Safdie, created a space that is versatile and diverse in its features.
The library includes an outdoor amphitheater, crisp landscaping and a rooftop garden with a 360 degree view of Salt Lake City. Not only does it hold more than 500,000 books, but it also includes an ever-changing gallery of art and a specialized children’s area. Whether you’re a young bibliophile or a stylish mom hungry for the latest copy of Vogue, the Salt Lake City Public Library was made for you!
The Los Angeles Central Library is part of a bigger system of libraries in the greater Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles Public Library Strategic Plan for 2015-2020 states that their locations, “serve the largest population of any public library system in the United States, yet each branch reflects and celebrates the unique qualities of the community it serves.”
On top of serving the community, the library maintains beautiful facilities as well. An article by the Los Angeles Times applauds the system for receiving a National Medal for Museum and Library Service in early 2016. Designated as a historic monument, the library was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue.
With subtle inspiration drawn from ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture, the building’s striking features make it one of the most beautiful libraries in the United States. Standout attributes, such as the torch on the peak of the building representing the “Light of Learning,” as well as the four-part mural of the History of California by Dean Cornwell on the interior, make it a noteworthy Los Angeles monument.
Hearst Castle has long been a hotspot for tourists and architecture enthusiasts alike. The series of mansions was once owned by the wealthy William Randolph Hearst, and is now a historical landmark. The castle, which was designed by Julia Morgan around 1920, contains scores of antiques and paintings. The second floor of the building contains the Hearst Gothic Library, which has a cozy medieval-inspired interior decked out in stained wood and 4,000 books. Maybe if you ask nicely you’ll be permitted to sit in one of the beautifully upholstered couches, make a cup of coffee from a vintage French press and get your literature on.
The Morgan Library (and Museum) is a part of a bigger entity known as “The Morgan” in New York. It was first built as a personal library for Pierpont Morgan in 1906. After his passing, his son opened the library of rare books and manuscripts to the public.
The decadent interior, with a warm and scholarly atmosphere, is home to iconic pieces of literary history. The scraps of paper that Bob Dylan wrote lyrics for “Blowin’ in the Wind” as well as “It Ain’t Me Babe” are housed in the library. Other pieces include incunabula prints and drawings by Michelangelo and Picasso, early printed Bibles, concept drawings for “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a journal by Henry David Thoreau and hand annotated music scores by Beethoven and Chopin. If you’re looking to delve into literary history surrounded by magnificent rotundas, the Morgan Library may be your perfect escape.
The Main Branch, otherwise known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is the perfect muse for those of you who are infatuated with the beaux arts architecture style. With high ceilings, chandeliers and brass lamps, the luxe building emanates sophistication. The exterior of the building is just as sumptuous, with 3 foot marble coating the building and marble lions guarding the entrance. Bronze flagpoles with intricately sculpted Tiffany-casted bases optimize the building’s attention to detail. If these features aren’t enough to convince you of its beauty, it also appeared in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
An extension of Johns Hopkins University, the George Peabody Library has become so widely admired for its beauty that it is now a predominant venue for weddings and events in Baltimore. Besides the 300,000 diverse pieces of literature, the library itself is adorned with cast-iron columns, ornate railings and subtle gold-leaf embellishments. Marble floorings and massively high ceilings make this library a gorgeous setting for reading. Visit their website here to book your next event.
If you’re having some major library envy right now, don’t worry, so are we. These awe-striking buildings emanate the beautiful concept of the library, inside and out. Free books and the pursuit knowledge should be celebrated! And what’s better to celebrate than setting up a gorgeous building for all book lovers to enjoy?
