This desk seen at TU Delft architecture bibliotheek is entirely made of recycled books. These pictures don’t do justice to how lovely it looks: very tactile and appealing.
This desk seen at TU Delft architecture bibliotheek is entirely made of recycled books. These pictures don’t do justice to how lovely it looks: very tactile and appealing.
this is not recycling, this is reusing, or repurposing. The definition of recycling is that spent materials are collected, broken down into their component raw materials and remanufactured into new items, be it the same as the original (aluminum cans to aluminum cans) or something completely different (paper to toilet paper or cardboard) Reusing means to take something that has been used once, and… re-use it (like re-filling glass bottles, with usually more of the same contents) or to take that thing, and make or do something with it other than its original function (LIKE MAKING A LIBRARY DESK OUT… Read more »
Thats beautiful!
What a tart!
To Brokenstraw – in the words of Srgt. Hulka from Stripes, “Lighten up, Francis.”
Wow,
Very creative concept. This desk actually has the looks and functionality.
Thumbs Up :)
Very cool but as a librarian, it’d be cooler if you could read the book titles.
I was thinking that too, sally sue! I was also hoping that there was still one of each of those books available to be checked out & read! ;-) <3
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Lies-El-Salvador-Shellys/dp/1507837011/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424027219&sr=1-1&keywords=secrets+%26+lies+in+el+salvador
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
Might I ask if you are sure those books are repurposed? I use to work at this university. According to the library staff I asked when we first moved in to the new premises. These books were purchased, new and then made into those counters. I was at the fire and nothing much could be salvaged other than the chair collection and archives from the basement. The old library was on the ground floor, which was devastated from fighting the fire. I would really check with the designer/school before posting this.
maybe ^brokenstraw could repurpose some of that knowledge to make a positve comment about this creative green desk. Lighten Up.
Actually this desk is a prime example of up-cycling because of the reuse and the value added to the old books.
It’s so lovely! At first I wondered, like sally sue, why they didn’t make the titles face out. Then, I imagined folks thinking, “Hmm… that looks interesting. I’ll just give it a little tug.” :)
And I must disagree with brokenstraw. Although this is a fine example of reuse, these books have also been recycled. In the words of Merriam Webster, “to adapt to a new use”.
This article led me to another interesting piece of stacked-book architecture: . These books were borrowed for the installation and then returned to the library!
WAY COOL!
puts a new twist on reading at the circ desk..;)
This bookshop in Melbourne, Australia has had a counter made out of books since 2007
Library with too many books can always use this idea to create a cool desk
On the contrary sally sue, you want to make sure that the spines AREN’T visible to the patrons. Otherwise you’ll have people who desperately want to check out some of the books and will be angry when they discover that they can’t since that book has been glued in place and either the other copies are checked out or the title has been excessed.
This is genius and very interesting! I enjoyed this very much. Ocalla H Harper
It’s beautiful, but isn’t it kind of heavy? Not that I’m a book expert. Or a heavy expert.
Great idea! I archived pictures.
Great idea! Art&recycle!
I notice the books are stacked such that the binding and title are not visible to one visiting the desk. I would be irritated if the one book I wanted was inaccessible near the middle or bottom of this desk.
Sure hope it’s been fireproofed too. I’m thinking “Fahrenheit 451” but then libraries tend to be non-smoking. Never mind.
Love the targeted re-purposing (ie, reuse books in a library). Reminds me of this Etsy seller who makes reading lights out of old books, which is also reusing books in your reading activity.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/typewriterboneyard
Not quite as functional, but we made a Christmas tree with books last year at our library.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shawncalhoun/4186292315/
Oh, we put the books back in the collection after the holiday. So not really repurposed either?
Link to the designer:
They seem rather clean and new to be reused.
To Wendy Tan: If they were bought specifically to make an “arty-farty” desk then I would condemn them for wasting books as I’m sure it would take a damn sight less chipboard (from recycled wood) than it has books.
To brokenstraw: Who’s to say they haven’t been recycled into rather arty boards designed to look like books? ;-)
I agree with sally sue, titles would be cooler, and stop beating up on brokenstraw. It drives me crazy when people get the meaning of a word or phrase all wrong and then gripe when they’re corrected. So, lighten up yourselves.
And the desk looks fantastic, but if it’s made of new books bought for the purpose of desk-making instead of actual used books, that’s a bit of a letdown, in my opinion.
What a great idea! A perfect use for discarded library books!
Retired Librarian
For all you who are worried that these may be “new” books: I can assure you, especially from those of us working in professional libraries, those books are “used”, to the extent that they are out of date and have been replaced. Some may be only a few years old, and some may be decades, but the hardbound books in our law library get light use, and would be perfect for this project! I’m sad that I’ve been wasting time removing covers and bindings to recycle, when I could have been saving up for a project like this! I’m thinking… Read more »
Se ve de pocamadre!
It’s reusing, not recycling, and not too practical BTW.
It’s a huge attractor of dust , which makes it a perfect breeding ground for dust mites (acarus) many people are allergic to. That means insecticides will have to be used periodically, which in its turn is harmful for the environment and health.
All in all, a rather pointless design.
@ Brokenstraw. the fact that you would turn this post of a help desk made out of books into a lesson on recycling is ridiculous and shows exactly how much time you have on your hands and exactly what kind of person you are. they call people like you miserable. and obviously jealous at the fact that you couldnt come up with an idea as cool as this. why dont you get a job or a hobby so you dont have to spend all of your time scouring the internet for things to put people down about. or find a… Read more »
PAPER WASTE
Now that’s a novel approach. You never know what those crazy librarians are bound to come up with.
GENIAL, GENIAL…….UNA MIRADA NUEVA A LA REUTILIZACION….VERDADERAMENTE ESCEPCIONAL. GRACIAS
Am I the only one who feels bad for the authors of those books? :-/
What is meant by “recycled books”?
ok to the people who freaked about the HUGE difference between reusing and recycling, WHO CARES. I work for KAB and its great to see discarded books reused. And hey, at least they didn’t go buy a new desk. That saves about the same amount of resources than recycling the books would have.
At first I agreed with Sally Sue that it would be cooler if the book titles showed. But if they had built it that way, people would want to check out the books!
Wow! It’d be some serious work to move that thing to vacuum. :)
Pienso que es un verdadero desperdicio tener los libros ahí.
Saludos.
This desk is just amazing. What a cleaver idea!!! Thanks to Elizabeth Dulembo for the heads up…she’s the best!
this might be somewhat good as a shelter during a gun fight… maybe something to install at banks and such. more classy than a desk made of steel.
would’ve been nicer if you could see the book titles.
The information I wanted was at the bottom!!!
this is great, would have been greater if the titles were showing …
First word out of my mouth upon seeing this:
“Bitchin!”
Does that make me odd?
Love it!
Really great idea.
Very smart idea guys! Bravo!
wow..
i love reading so maybe i might just stay there and read all those stuffs and ruin their desk after :D
kidding
This is freaking awesome!!! Except… the books… can’t be read? That one hurts a little. Still, it’s freaking awesome!!!!
i love reading so maybe i might just stay there and read all those stuffs and ruin their