Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
DAVID VANDERHOFF: Working in a small space certainly has its
challenges.
But one thing I really like about working here is that I
have a very personal relationship with the
customers in our store.
I'm David Vanderhoff.
I'm the manager of Van Alen Books.
We're the only bookstore in New York City that's dedicated
to architecture and design publications.
This is our 400 square foot storefront on West 22nd Street
in Manhattan.
Van Alen Institute is a nonprofit organization that's
devoted to engaging the public to think about the role of
architecture and design in civic life.
So this bookstore is a pretty clear
extension of our mission.
And we also are addressing the very serious need for a
bookstore devoted to architecture
publications in the city.
Because when we opened in 2011, there was no space of
that kind left in New York.
So Van Alen commissioned the architectural firm LOT-EK to
design this installation.
And this is a firm that's pretty well known for using
recycled materials in their work.
And they had a kind of interesting challenge when
they were approaching the concept for the space because
in this very small square footage, they had to
incorporate a more or less traditional bookstore with
something which could function as an event space and could
accommodate an audience.
So LOT-EK decided to use the strategy of stacking 70 solid
wood doors to create this incredibly strong structure
which can accommodate up to 30 people sitting.
So they've built upward this amphitheater.
And they've taken advantage of the very high ceilings.
The doors were actually donated to Van Alen by an
organization called Build it Green in Queens.
They're an architectural salvage yard that's
re-purposing material from demolition sites.
The bookshelves are actually made from planks from
construction scaffolding.
So it's another recycled material that's become a
structural component of the bookstore.
So these cables sometimes give people the impression that
that's what's holding up the structure.
But in fact, that's not the case at all.
They're really just there because we don't want anyone
to fall off this installation.
It's really these bolts that are fastening the whole
structure together and anchoring it into the roof.
You'll also notice that while most of the installation is
painted yellow, the architects decided to leave some of the
edges a little more raw and unfinished.
And this came from their desire to evoke some of these
less polished spaces that were more typical of New York maybe
two or three decades ago.
Another interesting element of the design is the lighting.
We have fluorescent lights, which are mounted onto the
back of the installation.
And it really gives a striking effect, because the whole
thing is backlit.
So when you're standing on the street, particularly at night,
the whole space just emanates this yellow glow.
So there's this moment when people realize that, yes, they
can actually walk up on this installation.
They can have a seat.
They can just grab a book and get into it and take their
time to browse the things that we have here.
In a lot of ways, it's the small size that makes Van Alen
Books so unique.
People feel very comfortable just coming in, engaging in
conversation.
And I don't think that's the type of relationship you can
have in maybe a bigger, more traditional retail
environment.
-Are you a social media darling?
Do you like to hang out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,
or even Tumblr?
If so, you can check us out at all those places.
Or, of course, you can just click subscribe right here to
see what we've got going on.