Archivo: WrenLibraryCambridge

Description: The Wren Library, Cambridge. The library, designed by Christopher Wren in 1676, was one of the first libraries to feature large windows. Prior to this, the high value of books tended to mean they were kept in fortress like, monastic libraries. With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century and book prices falling, Wren thought it would be a good idea to be able to read books in bright natural light. The architecture is deceptive, the ground floor is an open colonnade with a ceiling much lower than implied from the exterior proportions of the building. The body of the library lies between the top of the ground floor open windows and the bottom of the large glazed, upper row of windows. The upper windows then rise above the top of the book stacks to a high roof, making the library a light a lofty room.
Title: WrenLibraryCambridge
Credit: Own work
Author: Andrew Dunn
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes