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Libreria — the infinite bookshop in the heart of East London
Having had my fair share of trips to Waterstones and Foyles, Libreria on Hanbury Street was at the top of my list. Wandering into the shop, the counterpart to the Second Home workspace across the road, both of which were creatively designed by Spanish studio SelgasCano, I am struck by the warm yet striking aesthetics — countless lamps, rows of obsidian-coloured shelves, cosy reading nooks and mirrored walls and ceilings — intending (and succeeding!) to evoke an infinite library inspired by Borges’ 1941 short story, ‘The Library of Babel’. This Argentinian work conceives a universe in the form of a truly comprehensive library, containing every book that has ever been and every book that ever could be.
The enchanting space is not traditionally organised according to author, title, fiction or non-fiction, but instead by broad themes such as ‘Identity’, ‘Female Power’ and even, to my delight, ‘David Bowie’. By deviating from such arrangements and the restrictive algorithms of Amazon, Libreria encourages you to encounter books that you would have never considered reading, particularly by placing fiction and non-fiction books side-by-side on shelves; it is wonderfully organised in its ‘disorganisation’.
Rather than merely hosting book signings, the bookshop holds events which try to push boundaries and encourage interdisciplinary thinking. Recently invited authors include Bernadine Evaristo, the 2019 winner of the Booker Prize, who discussed the representation of ethnic minorities in literature, and Lucy Jones who delved into the biophilia hypothesis. Despite creating considerable seismic change within the industry, the Covid-19 induced lockdown has created the opportunity for Libreria to begin an online book club which has broadened their audience and compelled Lloyd Sowerbutts, the shop’s manager, to think beyond his original perceptions of several books.
The shop operates a refreshing no-phone policy, encouraging customers to engage with what they see on the shelves rather than ‘take this space for granted’, says Lloyd. After some intense deliberation, Lloyd’s summing up of Libreria as ‘beautiful, captivating and well-stocked’ encapsulates its ability to charm bibliophiles and beginners alike with its vibrant ambiance of discovery.
‘it’s indescribable…I mean we could talk about the aesthetics all day!’ said Lloyd. Watch the full interview below:
Bimble is the app for great, little places. Use Bimble to collect, save and share all the places you love to spend time in. Find Libreria on Bimble.
Film and article by Millie Morrissey
