Salle Labrouste

The most beautiful reading room in the world
Since 1983, the work of the famous architect Henri Labrouste, the Salle Labrouste, has been protected as a “historical monument”. The reading room in the French National Library ( BnF) consists of nine domes decorated with ceramic tiles that diffuse the light evenly. To support the vaults, iron arches resting on sixteen cast-iron columns give depth to this space. The combination of tones, colors and materials creates an industrious, stimulating and calming atmosphere. One of the very special features of this room is the presence of medallions, mainly by male artists and only one female artist, illustrating the letter writer Madame de Sevigne.
Quote: Thibaud Poirier