architecture
underground reading
feast your eyes on the saxon state library in dresden, germany.
it’s a frikkin’ beautiful library to begin with but the most interesting part for me is that the glass ceiling is actually at ground level - the whole building has been designed to sit below ground apart from 2 sections which protrude either side of the submerged room. it’s by no means the 1st of it’s kind but it’s certainly one of the best examples.
there are advantages to constructions of this kind, namely a quieter atmosphere, less need for temperature control and the ability to use limited space efficiently, e.g. sitting on top of the underground section is a public square, something which obviously wouldn’t have been possible using the same amount of ground area in a traditional design.
with architects constantly battling to design the tallest skyscrapers on earth it’s nice to see a building that’s been so cleverly designed as to use the earth to intelligently hide it.
discussion
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This is kinda “buried in books” situation…
Google up the Seattle library.
Bury me here!
Wow, this is an awesome library. Great find as usual.
Hmmm. Interesting.
it looks like a prison …
Isn’t a disadvantage that if Dresden ever gets fire bombed again, all the library patrons will be showered by giant red hot glass shards?
Anything that saves space and resources. I see it as a sincere step in the right direction.
absolutely brilliant!!!!!
astounding place!!!!
i just loved it
it even saves energy….loads of natural light everywere!!!
and im sure it must be much more quiet der!