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| Book Nook |
| A scholarly shrine to literature. |
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Purpose-designed and built to house a book-lover's collection of over 15,000 books, this curved-roofed pavilion is perched on a hillside in the Blue Mountains, NSW, overlooking some of Australia's most beautiful national parkland.
An avid reader and book collector commissioned Sydney architect Drew Heath to create a room that would not only house his large collection, but would also be a special place to sit and read. The owner's existing house is sited along the contour of the slope of the land, with the library sited nearby to take in the expansive mountain views.
The building has a sweeping roof that makes the internal spatial experience evident from the outside. The unusual curved roofline was designed so that from inside, the ceiling was low at the front to best frame the valley outlook, rising to allow access to the top shelves of the rear book wall. The curved design was therefore driven by the layout of the book shelving inside.
Construction was mainly of local timbers (hardwood framing, brushbox floorboards and exterior cladding and plantation radiata ply for the ceiling, roof shell and new cabinetry), with a masonry base and steel roof.
Oblique views were provided to sitting areas at the south-west and north-east ends. A third sitting area opens up from the centre of the building to a timber deck along the north-west facade facing the valley. A long wall of books (about 4000 volumes set in ply shelves reached via a sliding ladder) forms a spine along the highest (south-east) wall of the building.
The book shelves seem to encourage a measured pace and rhythm to the space along their length. Continuous horizontal datum lines seem to continue out through the glass. At night, reflections seemingly extend rows of books indefinitely into the landscape.
Architect Drew Heath explains:
"I wanted to build a wooden container for books. Originally conceived as a storage shed or barn, the building gradually developed a more sacred significance as a kind of chapel or small cathedral to literature. We even designed and built an altar that displays two massive volumes of the Webster's Dictionary in 8pt text, along with a magnifying glass to help read it. The detailing was influenced by the design incorporated in South East Asian timber buildings, with their separation and articulation of timber elements. However, many design decisions were also based on what I could buy locally".
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More Info
For further information, contact Drew Heath (architect / builder), Mob: 0414 491 270.
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