MVRDV, a Rotterdam-based company,  has just completed the ‘book mountain + library quarter’ centrally located in the market square of Spijkenisse, the Netherlands. It houses a mountain of bookshelves and is contained by a glass-enclosed structure and pyramidal roof with an impressive total surface area of 9,300 square meters. Corridors and platforms bordering the form are accessed by a network of stairs to allow visitors to browse the tiers of shelves. A continuous route of 480 meters culminates at the peak’s reading room and cafe with panoramic views through the transparent roof. Any possible damage caused to the books by direct sunlight is offset by the expected 4 year lifespan of borrowed materials. (Photos)

Additional functions including an environmental education center, meeting rooms, auditorium, offices and retail take place on site.

Taking the form of a traditional dutch farm to reference the agricultural roots of the village. The encompassing district integrates
42 social housing units, parking and public spaces to form a neighborhood. The masonry exterior of adjacent structures is introduced into the interior with brick pavers for the circulation spaces.

See the original coverage when this project was unveiled here.

 Via designboom