World's Wackiest Libraries

Have you ever walked into a library or bookstore and felt the familiar surge of excitement as you take in all the gorgeous stacks of books around you? Now imagine the same thrill paired with macabre architecture and wacky vehicles. It's a double whammy for all the book lovers out there, elevating an already extraordinary literary experience into something far more impactful! 

Grab your favourite tote, a map, and your imagination as you set sail on a carefully curated map of the world's wackiest libraries!

Hammock Library, Muyinga, Burundi
This cosy library is an architectural feat and the first official library in Muyinga, Burundi! The library features colourful and comfortable hammocks where visitors can sit back, relax, and read. This project was completed in 2012 and is built entirely from locally sourced materials and structures that have been thoroughly researched in the area. The library offers a variety of books ranging from children's literature to educational materials for adults. The library aims to improve literacy rates and accessibility. This beautiful combination of art, architecture, and social impact makes this library particularly noteworthy.

La Tête Carrée or the Square Head, Nice, France
This comically named library is an architectural marvel located in Nice, France, spanning three glorious floors! The structure is in the shape of a giant square head, with a prominent chin and a neck-shaped base that supports the entire structure. The box is a poignant metaphor for ‘thinking inside the box,’ and this imposing yet glorious structure encourages viewers to contemplate the conformist nature of modern reality.

The War Tank, Buenos Aires, Argentina
This "Weapon of Mass Instruction" is built out of a modified 1979 Ford Falcon. Built by an eccentric and brilliant artist based in Buenos Aires named Raul Lemesoff, the peculiar choice of vehicle seeks to highlight the perils of battle ignorance and spread awareness about the futility of violence. The vehicle has been modified to store over 900 books and even contains a non-functioning gun and a swivelling turret. Raul drives through the streets of Buenos Aires, delivering books for free to young and old alike!

The Ghoda (Horse) Library, Kumaon, India
This adorable and ingenious traveling library is a striking initiative founded by 29-year-old Shubham Badani from Nainital. The horse travels from village to village, granting access to books for young children in remote areas of Uttarakhand. This initiative aims to foster a reading habit and elevate accessibility in less privileged backgrounds. The villages it visits include Mahaldhura, Alekh, Gautiya, Dhinvakharak, and Bansi.

Vending Libraries, Beijing, China
This hyper-modern mode of book borrowing comes from the ever-practical Chinese. These vending machine structures take up the space of about three cars and dispense books 24 hours a day. The machines are scattered across the capital and house over 2,000 books available at a moment's notice! While this mode of borrowing does diverge from more beautiful traditional library structures, its flexible hours and wide availability actually make borrowing books more convenient and increase the likelihood of people choosing hard copies over their digitized counterparts.

Words Aliya Anand
Date 05.07.2024