Library “Between the Leaves”

“Between the Leaves” Library is a social project of the “For Oborishte” Foundation, and a charitable activity of Simple Architecture as part of its support for cultural initiatives. The aim of the library is to offer free exchange of books to passers-by in one of the metropolitan parks in Sofia. Some of them are donated by publishing houses, others are left by the readers themselves. Everyone can come, take a book, and after reading it, bring it back to its place.

The main idea of ​​the project is to offer an open but covered space in which the books can be stored. The construction is a cube with a side of 2.50m. The cube has one main entrance and one openwork wall, providing enough light to the interior. The other walls are floor to ceiling shelves, which provides for a maximum storage space.

When the visitor enters the library, he is completely surrounded by books, light and natural parkland. Thus the name of the library, “Between the Leaves”, given to it by “For Oborishte” Foundation, acquires a real sense.

The overall construction with a budget of only 500 euros is made entirely by volunteers. The materials used are wood, OSB and metal and the base is made of concrete blocs. The shape of the elements and their cutting lines are designed in the most simple way to be easily made and assembled and to reduce to a minimum the waste of material.