From the Series
As technology advances, numerous people have questioned the sustainability of handheld books because people just don’t read like they used to. But, architectural firms like Toronto’s Atelier Kastelic Buffrey have taken it upon themselves to turn the idea of a book exchange into a hub of sharing, beauty, and reading.
Story Pod is Atelier Kastelic Buffrey’s part lending library, part reading nook, nestled in a Toronto suburb. The wood-clad box’s design is simple and conveys a thoughtful approach to architecture.
During the day, two of the walls pivot open like the covers of a book, welcoming people inside. Visitors can take or leave something to read, or lounge on the built-in seating.
The pod’s doors are locked at night, but it’s energy efficient LED lights glow through the box’s lattice work like a lantern, providing ambience for night markets or community events. It is powered by concealed, self-sustaining solar panels on the roof.
“As users move around the box, the rhythm of its vertical slats changes,” write the architects. “The tightest spacing articulates opaque walls; the larger gaps, backed by transparent Lexan, allow light and views to filter through; and the widest openings display the book stacks, encouraging eager readers to enter.”