Libraries through the lens Bücherei Kressbronn am Bodensee, Germany


THE weather may not realise that summer is here, but for this month’s Libraries through the lens Thomas Guignard has taken inspi- ration from the changing season. He says: “For this early summer issue, we’re heading to the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee), a destination that cycling enthusiasts among Information Professional readers may know for the picturesque cycling route that circum- navigates the lake.


“Among the lovely villages encountered along the way is Kressbronn, an excel-


June 2024


lent stop for a piece of cake or to spend the night, and where a visit to the local library is a must! Once a barn and stables attached to an inn, the library building was spectacularly transformed in 2016- 2018. Led by Steimle Architects, the project converted the original structure from the 1920s into a contemporary library while retaining many of its orig- inal features. The simple plank facade of the barn was replaced by a similar arrangement of vertical slats of wood, cleverly rotated and spaced out to open up windows.


“Inside, the building’s timber structure is shown prominently and serves as a support for the bookshelves filling the space between the beams, a feature that the library staff pointed out may not be the most efficient use of shelf space but does wonders to bring the patrons’ atten- tion to its contents.”


Thomas adds that the “space around the library was also reclaimed and is now a lovely park where a small stream competes with a playground (and the library’s offerings) for the attention of the Kressbronn children.”


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