In the heart of Mumbai lies a 'forest of knowledge'. Seemingly endless coves lined with books curve around one another; like a maze you would love to get lost in. These lines sound like they’d come straight out of a fairytale, but studioHINGE has transformed this magical concept into a reality.
The Forest of Knowledge is a library located in the Cricket Club of India. While this library has always existed, the architects and designers at studio Hinge renovated the space in 2023. Living up to its name, the library’s design mimics nature. Its high arches look like trees reaching up to the sky — more specifically, they mirror the ficus and gulmohar trees stretching out on an adjacent street. When you pull out a book, it feels like you’re sitting under a tree as you read, only without the constant feeling of ants climbing up your legs to disrupt your peace. Basically, it’s my personal heaven.
I’m not the only appreciator of this space. Earlier this year, studioHINGE won an Architizer A+ Award, one of the most prestigious accolades one can receive within architecture. And, far more importantly, the redesign has inspired far more people to visit the Forest of Knowledge, bringing children and adults alike back to libraries.
Libraries are incredibly important, not just for their ability to disseminate knowledge, but also because they act as pillars of community. It’s easy for us to overlook them. Today, most people consider libraries as good for nothing more than book withdrawals. They seem to be growing obsolete in the digital age, but in reality, libraries offer us something that no other place can. They’re the ultimate third space: a place where people can gather, for free, to exchange ideas or bond over interests. You can go there to find solace in a book, but you can also go to build community through activities like book clubs, writing workshops, readings, and more.
The Forest of Knowledge was designed with this social aspect in mind. Its shelves are circular and movable, allowing visitors to create little alcoves where people can interact freely. The mobility of its furniture means the space exists in flux, changing for the various needs of the people using it. And, of course, it comes equipped with 55,000 other worlds (also known as books) for you to explore.
studioHINGE’s work and the immense success the library has found as a result of their vision, is incredibly exciting. It’s easy to feel disillusioned, especially as third spaces feel increasingly rare as time goes on, but the Forest of Knowledge is proof that people still yearn to read and connect with others.
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