I love libraries. So I don't know why it took me eight whole months to finally haul my ass down to the Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA), or the Amsterdam Public Library.
At 28,000 square meters, the Central Library down by Centraal (no, that is not a typo) Station is Europe's biggest public library. Brace yourselves for a huge photodump, because this is the most photogenic library I have ever seen in my life.
Some quick facts and figures about the OBA:
- 7 floors
- 1,375 seats (600 with computers/Internet/MS Office)
- 110 catalogue terminals and 26 lending machines
- Underground parking for 2,000 bikes and 1,200 cars
- 2.5 million users and visitors annually
- Awarded Amsterdam's Most Sustainable Public Building in 2008
- Also houses a theatre, radio station, conference rooms, exhibition spaces, "study pods", cafe and restaurant
The library is impressive in numbers, but it's even more so when you actually visit. For a bookworm like me, stepping into the library for the first time was like walking into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, without the impending doom of weight gain.
More than a bookworm's wonderland, though, this is everything I love about Dutch design.
Modern details everywhere, even on the couches and the floors.
Standing in the lobby, you can simply look up to see how the library is organized at a glance. It's a clever and irresistible invitation to explore.
Explore with me, after the jump.
