Idea Exchange, Canada's library without books.
How will the libraries of the future ? ¿ Paper books will be published in 2050 ? Knowing exactly what will happen to the publishing sector is very complicated, given that if all the forecasts had been fulfilled with the appearance of the Internet and the development of technologies back in the 2000s, right now no publisher would think of continuing to market books. on paper.
But against all odds, and with even fewer bookstores, we still have the power to decide whether we read on paper or on screen. Think, therefore, in a library without books something strange is being done in the middle of 2019, but it exists and **it is in the city of Cambridge in Ontario, Canada**.
On the great river that runs through Cambridge, and in the 164-year-old former post office building , Ideas Exchange Old Post Office, a center for learning and creation, has opened.
“It is a building with innovative technology programs for kids, teens, parents and seniors. A true community place for discovery and Permanent learning ”, said Gary Price, president of the Old Post Office.
This is the lighting of this creative center.
The architecture studio RDHA designed at the end of 2018 this building conceived as library without paper books , but yes with tablets, 3d printers, restaurant and cafe, coworking rooms Y creativity spaces for kids and adults.
Its structure, which received the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence 2018 , was added to the old building created by the architect Thomas Fuller in 1885 . RDAH has incorporated an additional space of more than 2,000 m2 which is wrapped in a glass structure and stands out on the water with views of the Waterloo School of Architecture.
Of course, parts of the historic building have been preserved, such as the heritage staircase , a unique example of 19th century architecture.
It is thinking for children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
The idea is that the new library will serve to store information digitally, since they have a wide catalog of books and online publications.
But it is also a multipurpose space distributed over four floors. In 'Creative Studios' , the ground floor, there recording studios for those interested in film and music, while the first floor, ' Reading Room & Coffee' , is destined to read while having a coffee with good views and natural light.
On the third floor of Idea Exchange is Discovery Center , a space designed for the development of Steam (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) . In the attic, 'MarkerSpace', they have dedicated space to the future technology with 3D printers and robots.
It's only in Canada.