30 October 2013

In Japan, A Library Dedicated To The Sea





The Setouchi Triennale is an art and architecture event in Japan that involves 150 artists installing artworks over the 12 islands of the Seto Inland Sea.



For the autumn session of the event, Swedish architects Malin Belfrage and Erik Törnkvist designed ‘The Sea Library’, a beautiful reading space built on Awashima Island’s Marine Memorial Hall, a former Seamen’s school built in the 1920’s.



To enhance the feeling of connection to the sea, the architects designed a standing brass screen and rectangular table with rippled surfaces that create wavy reflections, reminiscent of those on the water’s surface.



The books in the library are thematically related to the sea, and were collected through a call for books from the Triennale visitors—to enter the library visitors were asked to contribute a book in their native language. Thus, the library has been stocked with a universal collection of books pertaining to the sea.



The autumn session of the Setouchi Triennale commenced on October 5th this year, and will be held till November 4th.



















[via Dezeen and Ogijima]