lofty libraries: thibaud poirier photographs the finest architectural havens of literature

‘reading is solitude’ italian novelist italo calvino once said — an insight that emphasizes the idea behind this sublime series of photographed spaces. the subject: libraries — imposing, majestic, magnificent and refined, these architectural havens of literature and learning have been poetically portrayed by paris-based photographer thibaud poirier. through his lens, poirier seeks to pay homage to each architect’s personal interpretation of the literary experience, accentuating the important, and deeply individual interventions hidden within each space. 

grimm zentrum library, berlin, 2009

poirier documents the vast book-lined shelves and immense interior spaces of some of the finest libraries in europe, ranging in style from classical to contemporary. whether the subject be the light-flooded grimm zentrum library in berlin or the historic national library of france, poirier seeks to capture each architect’s artistic intention. ‘like fingerprints, each architect crafted his vision for a new space for this sacred self-exploration,’ poirier describes. ‘these seemingly minute details are everywhere, from the balance of natural and artificial light to optimise reading yet preserve ancient texts to the selective use of studying tables to either foster community or encourage lonely reflection.’

bibliothèque nationale de france, salle labrouste, paris, 1868

stadtbibliothek, stuttgart, 2011

bibliothèque sainte-geneviève, paris, 1850

biblioteca joanina, coimbra, 1728

bibliothèque de l’hotel de ville de paris, paris, 1890

bibliothèque de la sorbonne, salle jacqueline de romilly, paris, 1897

trinity college library, dublin, 1732