Minimalissimo

Kanazawa Umimirai Library

architecture

Around 6000 holes puncture the concrete exterior of the Kanazawa Umimirai library in Kanazawa, Japan.

Designed by Kazumi Kudo and Hiroshi Horiba of Japanese firm Coelacanth K&H Architects, translucent glass fills each hole, diffusing natural light into the 12 metre-high reading room of the library.

Kazumi Kudo and Hiroshi Horiba architects say:

For a public library such as this, we thought that the most important thing to have would be a reading room that provides visitors with a pleasant, comfortable space to read. This environment would allow users to experience the joy of reading while surrounded by a treasure trove of books with an overwhelming physical presence, something that the convenience of electronic and digital books cannot offer.

I love this space because of its minimal and single reading room that resembles a forest, filled with soft light and a feeling of openness reminiscent of the outdoors.

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