OpenAir Library | KARO

The project was planned right from the beginning as a SOCIAL SCULPTURE. The design and the functions were planned in a very close and open participation process. The aim was to create new and to enhance existing social networks. In collaboration with the local residents the fallow zones of the former village library were developed as a “bookmark”. Rememberance, history and narratives
provided the background for the “re-occupation” of the abandoned expanse. An old empty shop was
used as base for a temporary library and camp for a building workshop. There, books were collected
and design strategies for reclaiming the site were developed.

With more than 1.000 lent beer crates the favourite draft was mocked up together with the locals as a temporary sculpture in the scale 1:1 [2005]. The shelves of the temporary library were filled by the residents with book donations. A festival followed with poetry slam and readings to prove the everyday suitability of the new urban situation. Since 2005 more than 20.000 books were collected and the local residents pursue a reading café quite near the site. It took some years to organise the money for the construction of the so called "bookmark". Since 2006 the project is part of a research project by the federal government and was funded as a pilot project for realisation. In June 2009 the Open-Air-Library opened officially. The residents which take care themselves for a reading-café as well as for the Open-Air-Library call it a “library of confidence”: There is no registration needed and there is no control. You can take a book when ever you want, but should bring it back voluntary or at least another one. The shelves are never closed - the library is opened for 24 hours a day.