Vancouver’s central library ranked by Flavorpill as second most beautiful in the world

New York-based online cultural guide Flavorpill has compiled a list of

the world's 25 most beautiful public libraries and Vancouver's Central

Public Library has impressed the jury all the way up to the number two

spot.

Open File Vancouver (via Price Tags) caught the accolade and helped

the story go viral, where it has been re-posted more than 15,000 times

via social networking sites such as Facebook. Not bad for a list about

places to read real, tangible books.

Flavorpill explained its initiative as a desire to honour public

libraries (as opposed to college or private libraries), as they are

places where "anyone can enter and partake of knowledge they offer,

where anyone can engage with history, literature and culture." Though

they noted the books are of supreme importance, the culture lovers

wanted to draw attention to the beautiful spaces that house and

protect our literary classics.

Tourist hotspots — like the Vatican library — and destinations that

double as museums were taken out of the running, leaving room for the

public places whose primary function is to supply people with books in

an aesthetically lovely environment.

The Vennesla Library and Culture House in Vennesla, Norway came in

first for its innovative use of open space and bold design

incorporating glass and urban loggia.

Vancouver's very own book hub ranked second, grabbing top marks for

its Roman amphitheatre-style exterior and bright study areas linked by

bridges. Though his design was considered the most radical of the lot,

architect Moshe Safdie (the one responsible for Montreal's Habitat 67

and Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada) got the chance to execute his

vision after winning a city-run design contest.

Construction for the Central Public Library ran from 1993 to 1995 and

the project is still considered one of Vancouver's costliest, so the

recognition is probably a welcome development.

Rounding out Flavorpill's list of top five finalists is the Kanazawa

Umimirai Library in Kanazawa, Japan, the Bristol Central Library in

Bristol, U.K. and the Royal Danish Library (the Black Diamond) in

Copenhagen, Denmark.

Source : 
(http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/vancouver-central-library-ranked-flavorpill-second-most-beautiful-180413915.html)