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CNN Presents Top 7 The World's Most Beautiful Libraries - Photos

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  • CNN Presents Top 7 The World's Most Beautiful Libraries - Photos

    CNN PRESENTS TOP 7 THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES - PHOTOS

    http://armenpress.am/eng/news/713478/cnn-presents-top-7-the-worlds-most-beautiful-libraries.html
    17:23, 1 April, 2013

    YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS: How cool can libraries be in an era of
    iPads and Kindles? CNN gives an answer to this quetion by presenting
    7 of the world's most beautiful libraries, reoprts Armenpress. Here
    is the list of 7 the most beautiful libraries in the entire world.

    1. Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States

    The Central Library in Seattle is sleek, modern and sophisticated
    and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours.

    In its first year, more than 2 million tourists visited the library,
    which was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American
    designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its
    opening.

    The library was voted onto the American Institute of Architects 150
    favorite structures in the United States. Nevertheless it has received
    mixed reviews over the years.

    Whatever the verdict, the building is an impressive work of art:
    shiny, abstract and unusual.

    The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other
    events throughout the year, while visitors can stop by the Chocolati
    cart for a coffee and browse through the gift shop anytime.

    The library offers free self-guided cell phone tours, along with
    group tours.

    2. Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland

    The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland,
    founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.

    Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single
    chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which
    contains more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books.

    The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps in Ireland. Dating to
    the 15th century, the oak harp is the model for the emblem of Ireland.

    Queen Elizabeth II visited the library last year, the first monarch
    to do so since 1911.

    3. Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States

    Named after Theodor Geisel, widely known as Dr. Seuss, UC San Diego's
    Geisel Library is one of the most modern library buildings in the
    world.

    At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.

    Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch
    facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library
    in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and
    novels. For example, the snow fortress in the film "Inception" looks
    a lot like the Geisel Library.

    4. TU Delft Library: The Netherlands

    The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in
    1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions
    and its own museum. But it will only take a glance to be mesmerized,
    as it is a sight to remember.

    The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can't really
    see the actual library. What makes it interesting is the roof, which
    is a grassy hill.

    A huge cone pierces the grass roof, which symbolizes technology. This
    "gives (more) shape to the introverted reading rooms," according to
    the library.

    5. Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Alexandria, Egypt

    The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the revival of the ancient Royal
    Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential
    library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some
    2,300 years ago.

    The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean
    Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction.

    With its circular yet tilting form, the library looks like a modern
    painting. Various carvings and alphabetic inscriptions decorate
    the flatter side of the building, which the designers explain is
    "a careful display of the library's basic proviso: language."

    Number 6 is Stuttgart City Library: Stuttgart, Germany and number 7
    Bishan Public Library, Singapore.




    From: A. Papazian
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