Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
De betiteling science fiction lijkt volledig van toepassing op de Beinecke Library van de Universiteit van Yale. Desondanks werd er al in 1963 de laatste hand aan gelegd. Omdat ik versteld stond van een afbeelding (de onderste) die ik zojuist tegenkwam in m’n RSS Reader bij deze wat info, aangevuld met enkele andere foto’s.
Read MoreYale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library was a 1963 gift of the Beinecke family. The building, designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, of the firm of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, is the largest building in the world reserved exclusively for the preservation of rare books and manuscripts. It is built at the center of the University, in Hewitt Quadrangle, which is more commonly referred to as “Beinecke Plaza”. A six-story above-ground tower of book stacks is surrounded by a windowless rectangular building with walls made of translucent Vermont marble, which transmit subdued lighting and provide protection from direct light. Three floors of stacks extend under Hewitt Quadrangle. The sculptures in the sunken courtyard are by Isamu Noguchi and are said to represent time (the pyramid); sun – (the circle); and chance – (the cube). The library also contains an exhibition hall, study areas, reading rooms, the catalogue room, microfilm room, offices, and the book storage areas.”
