Quiet, please: Inside the world’s greatest places to read | CNN

El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires —

In a beautiful cross-pollination of the arts, one of the world's most stunning places to read isn't even a library -- it's a theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Designed by Pero and Torres Arngol, the El Ateneo Grand Splendid started life as a stage for the performing arts in 1919, then a cinema. Once upon a time live tango played from an orchestra underneath silent movies. Now it's a majestic bookstore, complete with frescoes, balconies and original red curtains.

Niels Mickers

If libraries are cathedrals of learning, then it's not a huge stretch to place a bookshop in a church. <a href="http://waandersindebroeren.nl/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Waanders In de Broeren</a> in Zwolle sits within a converted 15th century Dominican church. The refit builds in three floors but pays respect to the original vaulted ceiling, while architects <a href="http://www.bkpunt.nl/#0" target="_blank" target="_blank">BK. Architecten</a> transformed the building's transepts into reading rooms, complete with stained glass windows.

Waanders In de Broeren, Zwolle, The Netherlands —

If libraries are cathedrals of learning, then it's not a huge stretch to place a bookshop in a church. Waanders In de Broeren in Zwolle sits within a converted 15th century Dominican church. The refit builds in three floors but pays respect to the original vaulted ceiling, while architects BK. Architecten transformed the building's transepts into reading rooms, complete with stained glass windows.

courtesy B.K. Architecten

Dr James Campbell of Cambridge University and renowned architecture photographer Will Pryce have together compiled<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.thamesandhudson.com/The_Library/9780500342886" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>The Library: A World History</strong></a><strong>,</strong> the most complete account of library buildings to date. Here Campbell and Pryce take us on a virtual journey through some of their favorites.<br /><br /><em>Interviews by </em><a href="https://twitter.com/M_Veselinovic" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Milena Veselinovic</em> </a>

Strahov Abbey library, Prague, Czech Republic —

Dr James Campbell of Cambridge University and renowned architecture photographer Will Pryce have together compiled The Library: A World History, the most complete account of library buildings to date. Here Campbell and Pryce take us on a virtual journey through some of their favorites.

Interviews by Milena Veselinovic

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>Will Pryc</strong>e: "Visiting this library was an extraordinary, if fraught, experience. We hiked up a mountain only to be told that we weren't allowed to photograph the interior. Fortunately we had a Korean student of James's with us who pleaded with the Abbott and little by little we negotiated our way in. First we could take a picture through the door, then from just inside and so on. The collection is revelatory because you realize that you are looking, not at books, but printing blocks and that they date from 1251 - reminding us that the Koreans were printing for centuries before Gutenberg."

Tripitaka Koreana, Haeinsa Temple, South Korea —

Will Pryce: "Visiting this library was an extraordinary, if fraught, experience. We hiked up a mountain only to be told that we weren't allowed to photograph the interior. Fortunately we had a Korean student of James's with us who pleaded with the Abbott and little by little we negotiated our way in. First we could take a picture through the door, then from just inside and so on. The collection is revelatory because you realize that you are looking, not at books, but printing blocks and that they date from 1251 - reminding us that the Koreans were printing for centuries before Gutenberg."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbel</strong>l: "This is the oldest surviving Chinese library, dating from 1561. It is very dark because you were not intended to read inside, but to take your book to the garden or perhaps your room. The books have since been removed so this is the last picture that will ever be taken with the books on the their original shelves."

Tianyi Chamber, Ningbo, China —

James Campbell: "This is the oldest surviving Chinese library, dating from 1561. It is very dark because you were not intended to read inside, but to take your book to the garden or perhaps your room. The books have since been removed so this is the last picture that will ever be taken with the books on the their original shelves."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>Will Pryc</strong>e: "This is an extraordinary space, a temple to the industrial age which creates an almost cathedral-like effect. There are thousands of books wherever you look and gorgeous ornate balustrades. Despite all the classical details it's actually made of iron and spans the weight of this huge library above the concert hall below."<br />

The Peabody Library, Baltimore, U.S. —

Will Pryce: "This is an extraordinary space, a temple to the industrial age which creates an almost cathedral-like effect. There are thousands of books wherever you look and gorgeous ornate balustrades. Despite all the classical details it's actually made of iron and spans the weight of this huge library above the concert hall below."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbe</strong>ll: "This is the closest you can get to what a medieval library looked like. It was built for Malatesta Novello, a member of a prominent Italian aristocratic family, and it still contains original books, in their original places."

Biblioteka Malatestiana, Cesena, Italy —

James Campbell: "This is the closest you can get to what a medieval library looked like. It was built for Malatesta Novello, a member of a prominent Italian aristocratic family, and it still contains original books, in their original places."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbel</strong>l: "Although the building was completed in 1373 and is one of the oldest academic libraries in the world still in continuous daily use, the fittings date from the late sixteenth century. It is less ornate than Rococo libraries in palace or monastery complexes, because universities did not have access to the same amount of money, but it is still extraordinarily beautiful."

Merton College Library, Oxford, UK —

James Campbell: "Although the building was completed in 1373 and is one of the oldest academic libraries in the world still in continuous daily use, the fittings date from the late sixteenth century. It is less ornate than Rococo libraries in palace or monastery complexes, because universities did not have access to the same amount of money, but it is still extraordinarily beautiful."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>Will Pry</strong>ce: "It's an extraordinary piece of design, a statement of confidence by the Venetian Republic. It lies at the center of Jacopo Sansovino's scheme to re-design St Mark's square, though the building was completed after his death. The vestibule houses the Grimani collection of classical sculpture under a ceiling by Titian. While the original lecterns have gone, the superb interior design of the library gives us a sense of the richness of Venetian cultural life in this period."

Biblioteca Marciana, Venice, Italy —

Will Pryce: "It's an extraordinary piece of design, a statement of confidence by the Venetian Republic. It lies at the center of Jacopo Sansovino's scheme to re-design St Mark's square, though the building was completed after his death. The vestibule houses the Grimani collection of classical sculpture under a ceiling by Titian. While the original lecterns have gone, the superb interior design of the library gives us a sense of the richness of Venetian cultural life in this period."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>Will Pryc</strong>e: "Arts End is one of most lovely corners of the group of libraries that constitute the Bodleian. Under the galleries there are little desks where readers face the bookshelves of one of the earliest wall-system libraries."

The Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK —

Will Pryce: "Arts End is one of most lovely corners of the group of libraries that constitute the Bodleian. Under the galleries there are little desks where readers face the bookshelves of one of the earliest wall-system libraries."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbel</strong>l: "This is one of the largest monastic libraries ever built. The whole thing is a complete work of art. The corridors and staircase that leads to it is relatively simple, so when you enter this stunning space flooded with light there is almost a moment of revelation, a theatrical effect. There are no desks to work at because these library rooms were never intended for study, but for impressing visitors. The books were taken back to the monks' warm cells to be read. It was built in 1776, a piece de resistance of rococo design."

Admont Abbey library, Admont, Austria —

James Campbell: "This is one of the largest monastic libraries ever built. The whole thing is a complete work of art. The corridors and staircase that leads to it is relatively simple, so when you enter this stunning space flooded with light there is almost a moment of revelation, a theatrical effect. There are no desks to work at because these library rooms were never intended for study, but for impressing visitors. The books were taken back to the monks' warm cells to be read. It was built in 1776, a piece de resistance of rococo design."

Will Pryc

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbel</strong>l: "This is perhaps the largest high school library ever constructed. From the outside it looks like a severe brick box punctured by windows. The inside is completely different. The main space rises the whole height of the building and the bookcases are behind the dominating concrete structure. Students can read with privacy on carrels next to the windows which they can decorate with their own possessions."

Philips Exeter Academy Library, New Hampshire, U.S. —

James Campbell: "This is perhaps the largest high school library ever constructed. From the outside it looks like a severe brick box punctured by windows. The inside is completely different. The main space rises the whole height of the building and the bookcases are behind the dominating concrete structure. Students can read with privacy on carrels next to the windows which they can decorate with their own possessions."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>Will Pryc</strong>e: "This is a very imposing library from a time when Portugal was extremely wealthy and powerful. It is very dark but features intricate gold leaf which gives it magical luminosity. The backs of the bookcases each have different color, and there are integrated ladders that pull out, and secret doors that lead to reading rooms."

Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, Portugal —

Will Pryce: "This is a very imposing library from a time when Portugal was extremely wealthy and powerful. It is very dark but features intricate gold leaf which gives it magical luminosity. The backs of the bookcases each have different color, and there are integrated ladders that pull out, and secret doors that lead to reading rooms."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>WIill Pryc</strong>e: "This library was ground-breaking. It established the template of using books to decorate the walls of the library which we've been using ever since. The great hall is a harmonious combination of bookshelves, books and a wonderful painted ceiling. It was complete by 1585 and influenced everything that followed it."<br />

The Escorial Library, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain —

WIill Pryce: "This library was ground-breaking. It established the template of using books to decorate the walls of the library which we've been using ever since. The great hall is a harmonious combination of bookshelves, books and a wonderful painted ceiling. It was complete by 1585 and influenced everything that followed it."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbel</strong>l: "The Mafra Palace Library in Mafra, Portugal is at 88 meters the longest Rococo monastic library in the world. Sadly the original designs are lost but we think it would have been covered in gold leaf with an ornate painted ceiling. However, because the construction lasted from 1717 to 1771, by the time it was completed a simplified decoration was adopted. The library also hosts a colony of bats who come out at night to feed on the insects who would otherwise eat the books."

Mafra Palace Library, Mafra, Portugal —

James Campbell: "The Mafra Palace Library in Mafra, Portugal is at 88 meters the longest Rococo monastic library in the world. Sadly the original designs are lost but we think it would have been covered in gold leaf with an ornate painted ceiling. However, because the construction lasted from 1717 to 1771, by the time it was completed a simplified decoration was adopted. The library also hosts a colony of bats who come out at night to feed on the insects who would otherwise eat the books."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>James Campbe</strong>ll: "Outside it looks like a white box, so there is an element of surprise when you go in. All light comes through the stones in the wall, and the honey-color trickle of sun rays makes it magical. It is one of the largest buildings in the world devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The elegance of the Beinecke later inspired the glass-walled structure that holds the original core collection of the British Library."<br />

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, New Haven, U.S. —

James Campbell: "Outside it looks like a white box, so there is an element of surprise when you go in. All light comes through the stones in the wall, and the honey-color trickle of sun rays makes it magical. It is one of the largest buildings in the world devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The elegance of the Beinecke later inspired the glass-walled structure that holds the original core collection of the British Library."

Will Pryce

<br /><br /><strong>Will Pryc</strong>e: "This is best solution I have seen to the problems of building a library on a contemporary scale. From the outside it's a simple rectangle but inside a series of voids have been opened up creating a complete variety of spaces to work. There are secluded areas for those who like to be surrounded by books and more open ones for those who prefer to be around people. It seemed hugely popular with the students."<br />

Utrecht University Library, Utrecht, Holland —

Will Pryce: "This is best solution I have seen to the problems of building a library on a contemporary scale. From the outside it's a simple rectangle but inside a series of voids have been opened up creating a complete variety of spaces to work. There are secluded areas for those who like to be surrounded by books and more open ones for those who prefer to be around people. It seemed hugely popular with the students."

Will Pryce

Shhh! Inside the world's most beautiful places to read

CNN —

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library,” the late Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges once said.

Some libraries certainly touch the divine, having all the grandeur you would expect from a “cathedral of learning”. But libraries no longer hold a monopoly when it comes to beautiful reading spaces. Bookstores are now catching up and flaunting their wares in exquisite locations around the world.

RELATED: Erdem’s love of books

Building on the stunning settings of The Library: A World History, captured by architecture photographer Will Pryce and researched by James Campbell of Cambridge University, we revisit their global tour and throw in a few new contenders – only this time you’ll be able to walk out of some with a book in hand.

Three years later the result is “The Library: A World History,” the most complete account of library buildings to date.