A competition to design a new version of the Little Free Library touches on two of my favorite things in the world — product design and books. If you aren’t familiar with Little Free Libraries, they are small containers that are installed in front yards, community centers, and public spaces all over to world to help people exchange books for free. There are nearly 40,000 of these structures worldwide, and Chronicle Books. Little Free Library, and AIA SF are inviting architects and designers to rethink the structure and solve some problems cited by users in the field. Challenges that the new design should try to overcome include keeping the doors shut, making it accessible at night, keeping it water-tight and heatproof, and perhaps my favorite, serving small children and tall adults alike.
The jury includes architects, editors, and designers, and the prizes include an architecture library from Chronicle Books and other goodies.
If I designed one, I’d love a little solar panel on top that lights it up at night when the door opens and a way for folks using the library to exchange reviews and book suggestions. But I’m no designer, so you can totally steal that.
The deadline for designs is November 11th! For more info, visit http://www.littlefreelibrarydesign.com/
