10 of the most beautifully designed libraries around the world for 2016

esigned by schmidt hammer lassen architects and Kristine Jensen, the 323,000 square-foot, Dokk1 library or Dokken, has been dubbed as the most beautiful library in the world for 2016, according to US-based Wired magazine. Dokken library is situated next to the river in Aarhus in Denmark.

While we all know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, these gorgeous libraries have a lot more to offer than just reading material —think soaring architecture and amazing art.

Shhh! Take a peek at the 10 of the most beautifully designed libraries around the world for 2016:

1. Dokk1 Library, Designed by Schmidt hammer lassen architects – Denmark

2. Lawrence Public Library, by Gould Evans – Kansas, USA

3. Yangzhou Zhangshuge by XL-Muse – Zhen Yuan, China

4. Beyazit Library, by Tabanlioglu Architects – Istanbul, Turkey

5. Vennesla Library, by Helen & Hard Architects – Norway

6. Bodo Library, by DRDH – Norway

7. Chicago Public Library, by SOM – USA

8. Birmingham Library, by Mecanoo – England

9. Halifax Library, by Schmidt Hammer Larsen – Canada

10. Conarte Library, by Anagrama – Monterrey, Mexico

There’s nothing on this earth like nestling into a cozy couch in the heart of a huge library. CEOWORLD magazine has also ranked the 26 of the most beautiful libraries in the world for 2016 (in no particular order). Make sure to give these a look on your next trip.

1. Central Libary of Vancouver, Canada
2. The Library of El Escorial, Madrid, Spain

3. Jose Vasconcelos Library, Mexico
4. The library of Trinity College, Ireland

5. Liyuan Library in Beijing, China
6. Bibliotheque Sainte Genevieve, Paris

7. Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8. The main hall of the Strahov library in Prague

9. Abbey Library, Switzerland
10. George Peabody Library, USA

11. Biblioteca Angelica, Rome
12. Beinecke Rare Book Library in New Haven, USA

13. Stuttgart City Library
14. Bibliotheque de l’Hotel de Ville, Paris

15. Wiblingen Monastery Library, Germany
16. The library of the French National Assembly in Paris

17. Bibliotheque Interuniversitaire de la Sorbonne, Paris
18. The Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen

19. Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris
20. Bibliotheque du Senat, Paris

21. BNF, site Francois-Mitterrand, Paris
22. Biblioteca Vallicelliana, Rome

23. Bibliotheque Mazarine, Paris
24. Stift Admont – Bibliothek, Austria

25. Biblioteca Geral University of Coimbra, Portugal
26. The State Library of New South Wales (also known as the Mitchell Library) in Sydney, Australia