Although a library can be found in every city across the world, the architecturally pleasing designs of many are confirmed to take your breath away. SURFACES REPORTER (SR) has compiled here a list of 5 truly stunning libraries around the world. These libraries not only look impressive, but they also house many of history's most significant texts. While some of these libraries celebrate the innovative, futuristic/ ultra-modern design others will give you a feel as if you are stepping into a royal palace due to their Georgian/Baroque-style. Take a look at these beautiful libraries that make reading more enjoyable:

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1 Tianjin Binhai Library, China

Dutch firm MVRDV created this artistic book building- Tianjin Binhai Library in China in 2017. This futuristic library is dubbed "The Eye" because of a gigantic iris-looking sphere that serves as the focal point in the middle of the building, which is also visible from the building's facade. Spanned across an area of 33,700-square-meter, this five-story library has a cascade of terraced shelves that contain up to 1.2 million volumes. The attractive, clean, and all-white design of the library would make any modern design-lover delve into pleasant reading.

More Images: The Futuristic Tianjin Binhai Library by MVRDV

2 Admont Abbey Library, Austria

Admont Abbey is the world's largest monastic library and now the oldest monastery in Styria, Austria library. Graz Master Builder Josef Hueber built this library known for its Baroque architecture, art, and manuscripts. While the architect finished Abbey's architecture and design work in 1074, the library did not construct until 1776. Can you imagine that this majestic and magnificent library contains an astonishing number of c. 70,000 volumes? While the abbey owns around c. 200,000 books. The colours used by the architect are so bright that it is hard to take your eyes off it. The ceiling of this library is decorated with frescoes that show the stages of the human mind. This library also houses art collections of Historical and Modern artists which make it is an ideal visual treat for the lovers of art, architecture, books, and history.

More Images: Admont Abbey in Austria is the Worlds Largest Monastery Library

3 Klementium Library, The Czech Republic 

An epitome of Baroque architecture, the Klementium Library is a National Library of the Czech Republic opened in 1722 as part of the Jesuit university. Designed by architect Amanda Levete, the library houses more than 20,000 books. We can see the library was initially established as a boarding school for monks in the 13th century.

More Images: Klementium Library in the Czech Republic is An Epitome of Baroque Architecture

4 Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, Germany 

With its height of 40 meters, this cube-shaped library is one of the biggest and most important public music libraries in Germany. There lies a five-story gallery hall in the middle of the library, enclosed by a shell of books. Designed by Korean architect, the facade of this library incorporates countless glass blocks. Moreover, the library cube, which looks grey and unpretentious by day, glows at night in an iridescent blue. The building's core follows a concentric plan with an ancient pantheon at heart, but the exterior forms the grey concrete framing with a combination of frosted glass bricks. The building is contained within a perfect white cube, crowned by an inverted ziggurat reading room glazed with rotating photovoltaic roof panels.

More Images: Amazing Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart: A Public Library in Germany

5 George Peabody Library, Maryland

The George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore is considered one of the most outstanding libraries in the world. It houses more than 300,000 rare and historical volumes, and therefore it is aptly named a "cathedral of books." Built-in 1878 under the direction of architect Edmund G. Lind, the five-story library contains decorative cast-iron balconies encompassing a 61-foot-high atrium that allows natural light daytime. The library design is breathtaking to behold with its rising from a black and white patterned marble floor to a vast glass lay light and ornate ceiling.

More Images: Beautiful George Peabody Library in Maryland

Which library did you like the most? Let us know in the comments below.

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