Design
A forest of books in Mumbai? Inside a library designed by Studio Hinge at Cricket Club of India
OCT 11, 2024 | By Aditi Singla
There’s something undeniably peaceful about reading a good book in the heart of nature. You plop down under a tree, crack open a novel and suddenly, it’s a sensory escape like no other. Now imagine bringing that very feeling into the heart of a bustling city like Mumbai. That’s exactly what one newly designed 4,500 sq ft library dubbed Forest of Knowledge does for all bibliophiles.
Located on the fourth floor of the Cricket Club of India’s building, this treasure of endless knowledge is helmed by Pravir Sethi, Principal Architect of Studio HINGE, who drew inspiration from the majestic canopies formed by the Ficus and Gulmohar trees lined together in grand thoroughfares. It is a thrill to find a collection of over 55,000 books, with provision for long-term storage of vintage beauties, old favourites, rare titles and quintessentials of certain subjects, all under one roof.
In-sync with nature
Flanked in a monochromatic colour palette, the library is sophisticated, suave and every step tells a story. A striking cylindrical pod bookcase doubles as the main reception, offering a warm welcome to all who enter. The concrete columns wrapped in veneer and circular bookshelves made of rich Western Hemlock wood encircle around in the entire area just like tree plantations. “It’s where readers can thumb through books and meander over to the ergonomic chairs and plush sofa benches strategically positioned by the windows” Pravir mentions.
Curvaceous timber beams branch out gracefully overhead forming intricate meshes, transforming the library into a literary forest. Underfoot, a pattern play of terrazzo flooring tiles with chips of marble and green glass evoke the image of scattered leaves.
Gamut of conscious design
The arching layout of the library enhances the user experience, with administrative areas and book sorting screened off cleverly from the visitor space, ensuring no distraction from behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle. “Care has been taken to ensure no bookshelf is taller than 1.2m. This allows maximum natural light to permeate from the windows and for most adults to have an unobstructed view while standing” Pravir explains.
Adaptive multi-functional hub
As an adaptive reuse space, the architect has conceived the adjacent Zumba studio as a multi-functional area for activities that align with a library goer’s interests—film screenings, book clubs, new book launches, author readings, and workshops. Chintan Zalavadiya, Project Lead at Studio HINGE says, “In this era of scrolling, people crave page-turning. They want spaces where they can gather, share ideas and reconnect. We saw this opportunity and convinced the club to allow us to repurpose it as a space in which we proposed auxiliary programmes around their interests.”
The library stands as a reminder that good design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also ensures that every element serves a purpose. Pravir elaborates, “We’ve enlarged the windows and cleared the space in front of them, besides keeping a large proportion of them openable for fresh air. In addition we’ve also prioritised conscious strokes of sustainably harvested materials to craft an environmentally responsible space.” The result feels plucked straight from the pages of a chic design anthology.