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Countdown to Battle of Barcelona brings out the best of the best…
As the countdown to the Battle of Barcelona begins, (World Architecture Festival or WAF as its better known), so some incredible examples of contemporary architecture are starting to get exposed. This is just one of 224 projects shortlisted for the three days of presentations, knockouts, eliminations and for a few, Glory.
Dutch architects Merkx+Girod have used the novel location of a church to create this dramatic modern Bookstore for clients Selexyz Dominicanen. Merkx+Girod were commissioned by the Dutch booksellers to convert the interior of the former Dominican Church in Maastricht into a modern bookstore. For the same client M+G had previously designed two bookstores in The Hague and Almere. The unique location in Maastricht however asked for a very different approach. The store demanded 1,200 sq m of commercial area where only 750 were available.
The initial idea of the client to install a second floor within the church was rejected by the designers, because this would completely destroy the spatial qualities of the church. The solution was found in the creation of a monumental walk-in bookcase spanning several floors and situated a-symmetrically in the church. In doing so the left side of the church remained empty while on the other side customers are lead upstairs in the three- storey ‘Bookflat.’
The ground floor gives room to several different book displays, information desks, magazine-stands and cash registers, all made of standard sheet materials in different colours and surfaces. Michael Hammond
Editorial Director
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