Architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has converted buildings in a former industrial district into a public library in Chicago, where original brick walls and bow trusses are on full display. The West Loop Branch library is named after its location in the city’s West Loop neighbourhood – a former industrial area that is now…

Colourful booths enliven Hayarden school for children of refugees in Tel Aviv A house-shaped reading nook and colourful paintwork are among the playful features in this school for the children of refugees living in Tel Aviv, which has been overhauled by a team of local architects and designers. The Hayarden school is designed for children aged…

A handsome 50 metre long sofa that twists like a snake is a true challenge for even the most experienced sneaker. But a 25 metre long shelf at seven meters height is even more complicated, if possible. Nevertheless, inventor manufacturer WO Interior has succeeded, which accounts for most of the interior of a newly renovated…

Architecture firms Snøhetta and Dialog have completed a new hub for Calgary’s public library system, with a crystalline exterior and an atrium clad in timber slats. The New Central Library, which opened to the public 1 November 2018, provides a larger home for the Canadian city’s literature collection and more space for programmed events. The…

Hernando Guanlao is a sprightly man in his early 60s, with one abiding passion – books. They’re his pride and joy, which is just as well because, whether he likes it or not, they seem to be taking over his house. Guanlao, known by his nickname Nanie, has set up an informal library outside his…