Eiríkur Magnússon´s idea about the future library from 1886

Eiríkur Magnússon (1833-1913), who was an Icelandic scholar and librarian at Cambridge, introduced an idea about the future library in 1886.

Eiríkur´s idea consists of a building  with a circular core that would remain mostly unchanged. From this core there are corridors to all directions, to ensure short distances. All extensions to the building are in the shape of a spiral that winds from the center.

Eiríkur´s innovative idea won a gold medal in Paris for a plan for a library building capable of unlimited expansion.