The Vancouver Public Library was part of a project called "Library Square" which was designed by Moshe Safdie. It was completed in 1995 and consists of the library, an attached office tower, retail shops, restaurants and underground parking.
Canadian architect Moshie Safdie's 1967 modular apartment complex called Habitat '67 constructed for the 1967 Montreal World Fair. There are similarities with Safdie's design and that of the Nakagin Capsule Tower designed by Kurokawa Kisho.
Called "Katimavik" the upsidedown pyramid was Canada'sentry in the 1967 World's Fair,better known as Expo 67, held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Huge by any standard, it was one ofthe main centre pieces to the Fair.Reportedly, the shape came aboutwhen the designers tried to gluetogether the pieces of a previousdesign by putting an upside downashtray on it for weight! The lightswent on and the rest is history.Which is all very ironic consideringthat Canada was one of the firstcountries to implement a smokingban in most public places years later.
The Vancouver Public Library was part of a project called "Library Square" which was designed by Moshe Safdie. It was completed in 1995 and consists of the library, an attached office tower, retail shops, restaurants and underground parking.
The library itself is a rectangular building in the centre of the project that is surrounded by the free standing, elliptical, colonnaded wall which features reading areas.
The structure has often been compared to the Roman Colosseum in Rome.
Bridges span the skylit well to connect different parts of the square.
