The Rotterdam Central Library (Bibliotheek Rotterdam)
The Rotterdam Central Library is one of the city's best architectural curiosities. With a 6-story cascading facade, industrial design and angular yellow tubes, it is one of the most controversial buildings in the city.
Built in 1977 as a result of a sensational architectural contest between two Delft University architects, the winner was Jaap Bakema.
A striking element is the air-conditioning system which are actually the yellow-painted pipes on the exterior. This received a mixed reaction from critics, with some saying that the design was copied from the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
The library houses one of the biggest Record Libraries in Europe. There are also a Library Theatre, a Selexyz Donner bookstore, a cafe, internet terraces on the first and top floors and lecture halls. Moreover, the library has the world's largest collection of Erasmus' works, the famous Dutch Renaissance humanist and theologian.
From this website: www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/rotterdam/rot...
It is pictured next to the Pencil Building (Blaaktoren, 1964) and with the Cube Houses in the distance. You can just see the red Willemsbrug on the far right.
photo by Carroll Sparwasser
The Rotterdam Central Library (Bibliotheek Rotterdam)
The Rotterdam Central Library is one of the city's best architectural curiosities. With a 6-story cascading facade, industrial design and angular yellow tubes, it is one of the most controversial buildings in the city.
Built in 1977 as a result of a sensational architectural contest between two Delft University architects, the winner was Jaap Bakema.
A striking element is the air-conditioning system which are actually the yellow-painted pipes on the exterior. This received a mixed reaction from critics, with some saying that the design was copied from the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
The library houses one of the biggest Record Libraries in Europe. There are also a Library Theatre, a Selexyz Donner bookstore, a cafe, internet terraces on the first and top floors and lecture halls. Moreover, the library has the world's largest collection of Erasmus' works, the famous Dutch Renaissance humanist and theologian.
From this website: www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/rotterdam/rot...
It is pictured next to the Pencil Building (Blaaktoren, 1964) and with the Cube Houses in the distance. You can just see the red Willemsbrug on the far right.
photo by Carroll Sparwasser