Vancouver Public Library - Central Library

The Central Library in Vancouver is defined by a massive, elliptical concrete wall that mimics the shape of the Roman Colosseum. This structure houses the stacks and reading rooms, surrounded by a glass-enclosed atrium that serves as a bustling public concourse. When the library opened in nineteen ninety-five, architect Moshe Safdie designed it to act as the city's living room. A local resident famously protested the construction by chaining himself to a tree, but today the building draws millions of visitors annually.