[Source: Architectural Record's "Off The Record" Blog. Article by Rita_Catinell.]
"Bookstores have had a hard time recently, but now we have a bit of good news. Monday was the grand opening of Van Alen Books, a new architecture and design bookstore and public reading room located at the Van Alen Institute’s headquarters at 30 West 22nd Street in Manhattan. Van Alen Institute is an independent non-profit organization that "fosters dialogue about the evolving role of architecture in the public realm". The storefront space will be New York’s only bookshop and gathering place devoted to architecture and design publications — and is sure to become a destination for professionals, students, and other fans of architecture in print. The bookstore’s new space, designed by architectural firm LOT-EK, features a 14’ tall staircase crafted from a stack of 70 recycled doorssourced from Build It Green! NYC, a nonprofit supplier of salvaged building materials. Below are some photos of the new space.
CLARIFICATION: The "staircase" does not lead to a second floor but is a seating area for visitors. For more images of the space visit the Van Alen Books facebook page."
The street view of the storefront. Courtesy Van Alen Institute
Detail of the salvaged door staircase. Courtesy Van Alen Institute.
A view from the top of the stairs. Courtesy Van Alen Institute.