Paagman Bookstore | CUBE architecten

For a new location for one of Paagman’s book stores, this bookcase was designed in the entrancehall of The Hague’s central library. The interior has been formed precisely in a way that the curved bookstore between de escalator, the pillars and the glass round facade intertwine with Richard Meier’s architecture. In the open floor plan, 2 long-drawn-out bookshelves are curved along the shape of the facade. The length of the segments of the bookcase is dictated by the radials that also dictate the size of the existing facade segments. The bookcase seems transparent because the shelves are placed far apart, leaving a view over the books, through the bookshop. Thereby a good view is created from inside the store on the outside square, and both customers and books are visible for passengers outside. Several open spaces between the shelves function as comfortable seats to read, a opening to walk through and the cash register. In this way the costumer is tempted to wander amongst the books and sit down to look through them. On low benches along the facades books are displayed for customers passing by. The entire bookcase is caught in a frame in the bright colour of Paagman. The long bookcases filled with colourful books function as a display that attracts people to the store. Normally books are put on shelves side by side, which only shows the back of a book. In this bookcase at least 50 percent of the books is displayed with the front towards the costumer. In this way it’s more clear and attractive for the visitor. The dismountable system of reversible shelves makes it easy to choose wether to present the books face-to-face or side by side.