Bibliothèque nationale de France, National library in 2nd arrondissement, France
The Bibliothèque nationale de France is a national library in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, marked by four glass and steel corner towers that form a rectangular building along the Seine. At the center lies a sunken garden with tall trees, visible from the reading rooms and surrounded by the towers.
The institution was founded in the 16th century as a royal collection, when a decree required printers to deposit each published work. The current riverside site opened in the late 20th century to house the growing holdings and make them accessible to the public.
Students and researchers work side by side in the reading rooms, while rotating exhibitions display manuscripts and rare prints from the collection. Visitors can explore galleries showing old maps, coins, and photographs that document centuries of French publishing and thought.
The different floors offer separate areas for reading, research, and media use, with large windows letting in daylight. Visitors can find the sections they need across several mezzanine levels and navigate easily through the clear layout.
The sunken garden at the center of the complex is not immediately visible from outside and only reveals itself once you enter the reading rooms. The trees in the courtyard grow on their own level below the main buildings, creating a quiet contrast to the tall towers surrounding them.
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