Searching for the soul of the city
What is this bookcase doing here?
By Jeroen Laven
30-08-2006 /views: 1285 in past 12 months.
Jogging along the river Rhine in Bonn this morning I suddenly saw this strange bookcase. Almost like a statue.
Photos by Jeroen Laven
I stopped for a few minutes to take a look, and to my surprise people came and went, bringing and collecting books. I like it! I want one in Rotterdam, where I live! This bookcase is a very stylish one, but it’s not alone. All over the world there are places where people exchange books. The famous international Bookcrossing-network has 21 one exchange points in Bonn today, although non as beautiful as the one along the river. Bookcrossing is of course not the only network dedicated to the free exchange of books in public spaces. For instance in the Netherlands and Belgium you have Wildeboeken (Wild books). Other networks are not dedicated to this kind of book-exchange but do it nevertheless. An interesting one is the site “learn more about 43 things”. That site tries/helps to inspire people to do something with their life. Set goals, achieve them! And – yes- some people’s goals turn out to be to exchange books. Fair play to them!
If you know more surprising bookcases in public space, let us know on Inspiring Cities!
If you know more surprising bookcases in public space, let us know on Inspiring Cities!
On Friday 28 November 2009, Erik Krikortz visited Inspiring Cities and Stipo in Amsterdam for a lecture on his project Emotional Cities. On a website
Thursday 10-12-2009 is the second Inspiring Cities Night in Amsterdam. Topic: The Urban Screenscape, the use of urban screens in the public domain.
The highlights of an Inspiring Cities salon in Rotterdam, June 3td 2009.
The 29th October 2009 was Inspiring Cities night in Amsterdam. Approximately 40 people talked, dreamed and laughed about possible applications for aug
Inspiring Cities organises Jane Jacobs day in Rotterdam (31st of October 2009).
ARTICLE ORDER: