Bibliothek

“Is there a more beautiful image for peace on earth than the reading room of a large library?” asks Peter von Matt in his contribution to this book. By building the library of the Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Max Dudler has created a space for books and reading that is both modern and timeless. The building’s architecture has drawn enormous attention from far beyond Berlin and continues to be highly praised by users. In addition to documenting the ideas that shape this building, Bibliothek explores the role of libraries in general and focuses in particular on architecture that creates adequate spaces for books and their readers. These functions are showcased in Barbara Klemm’s enchanting black-and-white photographs, which capture the simultaneously lively and intense atmosphere of the library’s various spaces. They offer a dramatic counterpoint to Stefan Muller’s spare, tranquil color photographs concentrating solely on the building’s architecture. Featuring contributions by Jörg Baberowski, Hartmut Böhme, Milan Bulaty, Max Dudler, Martin Mosebach, and Peter von Matt, as well as photographs by Barbara Klemm and Stefan Müller