The Bibliothèque Nationale de France (National Library of
France) was built in 1996, replacing an old structure, located near the Louvre,
which had become grossly inadequate to house the treasures of France's literary
world.
The construction of this magnificent new building was
proposed in the 1980s by then-President François Mitterrand, and was
enthusiastically received by the French public and has been highly-acclaimed
for its unique design.
The glittering new library is quite futuristic in design,
which is exactly what architect Dominique Perrault had in mind.
The building consists of four 24-story towers, shaped as
open books, all overlooking a beautiful inner garden. The main reading room
areas are open and airy, with lots of glass providing the extra light so often
lacking in old, dingy libraries. The furniture is ultra-modern yet comfortable,
warm yet sleek, fashioned from a variety of woods.
The library can accommodate 1,600 readers - all at one
time - if necessary. That makes this one of the largest libraries in the world.
Many of the public reading areas overlook the pristine courtyard, giving the
reader the impression that they're far removed from the hustle and bustle
characteristic of the City of Light. An additional 2,000 seats are found in
private reading areas that are meant for researchers only.