We see how the city becomes a mental projection of those within it through the creation of virtual worlds. In the late 1950s, interest in rare books, the philanthropy of the beineckes, the universitys pressing need for a special collections library, and the design by the architect gordon bunshaft. These marble panels filter light so that rare materials can be displayed. Beinecke rare book is more than just a place to read. The exterior skin is composed of thin marble panels that allow light to show through but not damage the books. This area is near the focal point of activity of the yale campus. Introduction the beinecke rare book and manuscript library is one of the worlds largest buildings devoted to rare books and manuscripts housing about 180,000 volumes in the central tower and over 1 million that are kept in the underground book stacks. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library case study by david leitman location.
Sunlight is passing through the translucent marble. Beinecke rare book manuscript library home the beinecke rare book manuscript library is one of the worlds largest libraries devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts and is yales principal repository for literary archive awesome 22 archive architecture and library design. Yales beinecke library restored 20160901 architectural record. Lattice book house scenic architecture office palmetto library houser walker architecture spring whispers book club fon studio redcliffs village library young architects kew gardens hills. Established in 1963, yales beinecke library celebrated its 50th anniversary on 20. There were two fullyear exhibitions that explored the librarys architecture. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library at yale university, designed by gordon bunshaft of skidmore, owings, and merrill. New haven in 1963, yale university opened the most modern of structures to house its most ancient of books. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library yale university new haven connecticut. The silent protest parade on fifth avenue on july 28, 1917, one of the first major mass demonstrations by african americans, will be the focus of a special display of four historic photographs at the beinecke rare book and manuscript library, on view from friday, july 21, through sunday, july 30. It is a new building nestled among the old, which is an apt juxtaposition given that the library s holdings are some of the oldest texts in existence.
Yale universitys beinecke rare book and manuscript library is the largest building in the world dedicated to the containment and preservation of rare books, manuscripts, and documents. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library new haven. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library architectuul. The beinecke rare book and manuscript library has become so loved by the yale community that the universitys imprint published a bookthe beinecke library of yale universityin 2003 in honor of the librarys fortieth anniversary, filled with essay contributions from employees past and present. The exterior is made of slabs of granite which let in subdued light. Built in 1963, the library belongs to yale university, located in new haven, connecticut. The architecture of this building is spectacular, designed to house, in a low oxygen cube, thousands of rare books. Sufficient ambient lighting was required to enable the building to. The purpose of the building is to serve as a research center for students. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library, new haven, ct. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library designed by som in 1963 to emphasize the beauty of these rare books, they were set up to be the centerpiece of the building.
A stern figure and a loyal advocate of the international style, bunshaft spent the majority of his. Cloistered by a protective shell of stone, the beinecke rare book and manuscript library is one of the worlds foremost collections of rare manuscripts. October 18 december 20, 1996 organized by patricia c. The challenge was to provide ample lighting in the interior for people to study and. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library amusing planet. One of the worlds largest libraries devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts, it is yale universitys principal repository of literary archives, early manuscripts, and rare books. But it also posed a major challenge, says bill mahalko, who. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library home facebook. As lead designer of the lever house and many of americas most historically prominent buildings, pritzker prizewinning architect gordon bunshaft 9 may 1909 6 august 1990 is credited with ushering in a new era of modernist skyscraper design and corporate architecture. All the books were placed around the core like a large display case. Beinecke rare book library in new haven, connecticut, usa. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library all light comes through the stones in the wall, and the honeycolor trickle of sun rays makes it magical. The beinecke library contains yale universitys principal rare books and literary manuscripts and serves as a research center for students, faculty, and other scholars.
Yale universitys home for rare works, including the mysterious voynich manuscript. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library beinecke rare book and manuscript library at yale university, designed by gordon bunshaft of skidmore, owings, and merrill. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library hic arquitectura. Yales rare book library is designed to shield precious works from. Closeup of rare books in the reducedlighting library tower stacks. Beinecke library curated collection photo negative collection 11025 david plowden. The beinecke rare book and manuscript library contains the principal. Guangzhou has several interesting architecture sides guangzhou library guangzhou library this building looks sloped and seems going to full and the. Opened in 1963, the library is renowned for its translucent marble facade and the worldrenowned glass book tower. That means the interior of the building glows by day. Discover beinecke rare book and manuscript library in new haven, connecticut.
Willis, curator of the yale collection of american literature last revised june 7, 2012. Cloistered by a shell of stone, the 1963 beinecke rare book and manuscript library in yale, us, is one of the worlds foremost collections of rare manuscripts. Yales rare book library is designed to shield precious. Beinecke display marks centennial of 1917 naacp silent. Beinecke rare book library by gordon bunshaft som architect, at new haven, connecticut. Visit the beinecke rare book and manuscript librarys page. The library is open on monday from 10am7pm, tuesday to thursday from 9am7pm, friday 9am5pm, and saturday from 12pm5pm. Gordon bunshaft beinecke rare book and manuscript library. Exhibits of the beinecke librarys collections can be viewed by the general public during open hours. The beinecke rare book and manuscript library sits prominently and visibly in the center of the yale university campus.
Yale universitys beinecke rare book and manuscript library is the largest. The spiraling atrium lights up all eight floors the building also has photovoltaic cells on its. Beinecke rare book library gordon bunshaft som great. This university bears a strong modern design and highly functional appearance, which i really like. Gibsons book presents the urban environment as a topology of signals and nodes, a design that is structured from these nodes internally and then crystallizes as a matrix.
Stephen jones, head of access services at the beinecke library, shared with the. Its rectangular volume is enclosed in sheets of marble, thin enough at. The library curators talked about the librarys collection. American architect and designer florence knoll adds to the room. It was time to celebrate our success and our remarkable building architect gordon bunshafts masterpiece of marble, granite, bronze and glass but after 50 years as a worldclass center of research and scholarship, the librarys infrastructure needs upgrading. The site chosen was the northeast corner of wall and high streets, diagonally across from the sterling memorial library. With todays digital reading habits, itd be easy to assume that libraries are on the. One of the most prized buildings in modern american architecture, the beinecke rare book and manuscript library at yale university represents on the most novel uses of stone in the built environment. The book shaft, set aglow by small incandescent lights on the ceiling edge of the glass wall, proclaims the books importance and precious character. They are able to let in only dim light from outside, assuring that the. Yale university beinecke rare book and manuscript library. The modernist edifice houses a rich rare book library and literary archive, and it was established as a gift from the beinecke family. Log in to place or check the status of requests for beinecke materials. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library docomomo.
Gallery of hyundai card travel library wonderwall 4. The library book shelves are placed in the centre and are accessed from the internal structure, the materials used. One of the largest buildings in the world devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts. The beinecke librarys robust collections are used to create new scholarship by researchers from around the world. Each year, students assign p biblioteca beinecke 1960 e 1963. Yales rare book library is designed to shield precious works from direct sunlight. Completed in 1963 and situated on yale universitys campus, in new haven, connecticut, the library has room for approximately 780,000 volumes. Since its opening in 1963, the marble exterior of beinecke rare book and manuscript library has kept hidden yales most obscure texts and invited the speculation of visitors and students alike. The beinecke rare book and manuscript library was an architectural incongruity amid.
Beinecke rare book and manuscript library international. Click on image or caption above to see image in the zoom viewer. On a sunny day, its unique exterior seems to be floating above its darkened ground entry level. Yale universitys beinecke rare book and manuscript library. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library beinecke rare. Media in category beinecke rare book and manuscript library the following 36 files are in this category, out of 36 total. Yales beinecke rare book and manuscript library turns 50.
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