Arcing along the banks of the Dojima-gawa River near the center of Osaka, the Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest engages with the city on multiple levels. It connects to an adjacent park and acknowledges the legacy of the nearby Osaka City Central Public Hall, which was built in 1918 with a large donation from a wealthy native son. Like that philanthropist, Tadao Ando grew up in Osaka and wanted to give back to the city. So he proposed creating a children’s library and paying for the construction himself. After talks with municipal authorities, the city agreed to provide the land next to Nakanoshima Park, which occupies the eastern tip of a crescent-shaped island in the river. “This project began with the idea of ‘growth,’ ” says Ando. “I have always believed that books are nutrition for the developing mind,” he adds.
Asked about the need for libraries in the Internet age, Ando replied, “There is a limit to learning with a screen. Of course, information technology is incredibly efficient and indispensable, but [physical] books hold history and memory not found in the digital data of handheld devices.” He also believes there is still a need for places where people can gather and learn together.
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