Must Have Shopping: Book Stores

I love books. And, maybe even more than books, i love bookstores. And the older, and bigger, the better, because there is so much to see and read and touch and feel, while you scour bookshelves for that perfect read.

So, imagine how it would feel to look for books in places like these:

The Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht

This 800-year-old Dominican church has had a chequered history since closing its doors to the congregation; it was derelict and overgrown at one point, and was even used for bicycle storage.

Now, thanks to a radical overhaul by Dutch architects Merkx + Girod, it could well be the most stunning bookshop in the world.  The architects have been mindful that the main feature of the bookshop is the church itself.  As a result, the minimalist interior adds a splash of twenty first century colour to this very medieval canvas, doing justice to both in the process.

It has been called “A bookshop made in heaven”.

The  El Ateneo

A downtown Buenos Aires bookshop converted from an old theatre, this imaginative reuse sees every corner of the theatre auditorium utilized, from the stalls to the circle to the balcony. The theatre boxes are now private reading rooms, while the stage serves as a cafe area complete with the original crimson curtains.  

The El Ateneo is a fine example of how an important piece of history can be preserved and repackaged for a contemporary audience.

The Livraria Lello 

It is smaller than the El Ateneo and Selexyz Dominicanen, and unlike them, it is a purpose built bookshop, a stunning contrast of dark wood and exuberant paintwork.

Livraria Lello has sold books since it was originally established in 1881 and boasts stained glass windows, wood panels and columns worthy of the finest craftmen, Livraria Lello, like its companions above, is ideal for book enthusiasts and architecture fanatics alike.

And it will come as no surprise to some that the impressive steps shown above have been described as a “stairway to heaven”. 

via Urban Ghosts