In this article, we will explore 8 bookshelf designs that are unique in both style and function, focusing on built-in and wall-mounted bookshelves.
For the community of book lovers, having the right bookshelf to store their collection has never been more essential. That’s why beautifully designed and functional bookshelves are always a topic of great interest. This collection showcases fascinating and practical bookshelf designs from around the world.
1.The Home of Two Collectors in the United States | Wheeler Kearns
Wheeler Kearns Architects designed this Chicago home for two art collectors, ensuring ample space for their extensive collections.
In the living room of the loft apartment, a custom-made shelf crafted from polished steel with a spiral staircase spans almost the entire wall. This space is not only filled with books but also showcases a variety of wooden and clay artworks.
2. House No. 6 in Spain | Zooco Estudio
A bookshelf spans two floors in this apartment in Mallorca, designed by the Spanish studio Zooco Estudio. The colorful book covers contrast strikingly with the white shelving unit that rises from the ground floor.
The studio stated: ‘The bookshelves form a unified element, and the floating shelf in the middle of the room becomes the centerpiece of the living area and foyer. In this way, we integrate both aesthetics and functionality into a single element.
3. Pedro Reyes’ House in Mexico | Pedro Reyes
The house in Mexico City belonging to sculptor Pedro Reyes and fashion designer Carla Fernandez is filled with sculptural details, including a double-height staircase and a library made of raw concrete.
Concrete is left exposed here and throughout the rest of the house, drawing inspiration from the modernist and brutalist buildings of the city.
4. The Library Home in China | Atelier Tao+C
This apartment in Shanghai is located within the ISS Normandy residential complex, designed by Hungarian-Slovak architect László Hudec in 1924, and is almost entirely covered with bookshelves.
The wooden cabinets match the apartment’s wooden flooring and contrast with the white marble staircase in the living area, where a wine fridge adds to the room’s relaxing atmosphere.
5. An Enclosed House in the UK | Turner Architects
When Turner Architects renovated this Georgian-style terraced house in South London, the studio carefully restored the building’s original features while keeping it modern.
The built-in bookshelves, filled with books, add a splash of color to the blue living room, where a cozy mustard-yellow sofa creates an inviting reading nook.
6. The House on Farleigh Road, United Kingdom | Paolo Cossu Architects
A smooth wooden bookshelf runs along the wall and connects with the sturdy wooden staircase inside the house on Farleigh Road in East London, designed by the local studio Paolo Cossu Architects.
The deep shelves expand the space to accommodate books, magazines, plants, vases, and lamps.
7. Cuernavaca Home Mexico | Tapia McMahon
Inside this family home in Mexico City, a massive wooden bookshelf adds warmth and coziness to the sturdy concrete walls.
Architecture studio Tapia McMahon stated, ‘The large wooden bookshelves and kitchen system mimic the arrangement of furniture, making the interior more engaging than ever before.
8. Warehouse on Charlotte Street, United Kingdom | Emil Eve Architects
In this apartment in Shoreditch, East London, the living room is designed within a former warehouse and features a plywood bookshelf, combined with exposed wooden beams on the ceiling.
The oak shelves, reaching up to the ceiling, are designed to complement the building’s warm material palette, including brick and wood.
Source: Dezeen