Selexyz Dominicanen
December 5, 2007 // Architecture + Books + Design

What do you get when you combine and 800 year old Dominican church with an upscale bookstore? Just the most awesome bookstore ever! This is the Selexyz Dominicanen, a bookstore that’s been built into a beautiful ex-church in the city of Masstracht, Netherlands. With a minimal amount of floorspace, the architects chose to build upward, utilizing the extremely tall ceilings (yet still getting nowhere near them).

I love how amazingly the old and new blend together. The dark steel of the giant bookshelves makes the church aspect of it seem even more important and beautiful. I would love to see how it looks at night, I have a feeling it would be absolutely amazing. There’s even a small café in the back of the space to drink and enjoy your book in the wonderful space.

I want more of this kind of stuff in LA!

Found through The Cool Hunter

Bobby

  1. wow…very cool.

    its very unfortunate that LA doesn’t have any 800 year old buildings

    Comment by zac — December 6, 2007 #

  2. Well I had the fortunate chance of having visited Maastricht…beautiful city with great museums like the NAi (Netherlands Architecture Institute) and the Bonnefanten (having pieces from LeWitt, Serra, Beuys, Nauman…) and great shopping.

    And yes the bookstore looks as good as it does in these photos. simply impressive and awe inspiring.

    Comment by Hunn — December 6, 2007 #

  3. Wow, nice, as I live near Maastricht, never seen this store before, but will check it out soon I guess. Thanks for the hint… :)

    Comment by Maurice — December 6, 2007 #

  4. Wow, that is great. If it wasn’t on the other side of the country I would go and have a look.

    By the way, isn’t there an rss feed to your blog?

    Comment by typehigh — December 6, 2007 #

  5. a place like this would make me a faithful church-and-bookstore goer! ;)

    Comment by Ian Yang — December 6, 2007 #

  6. wow. This rules

    Comment by becca — December 12, 2007 #

  7. looks like a wonderful bookshop!

    Do you have a link to a web address for it at all to get details of it’s location?

    Comment by Chris Sharps — December 17, 2007 #

  8. Typehigh

    “If it wasn’t on the other side of the country I would go and have a look.” We’re only talking the Netherlands here – its hardly big. Surely you can get there?

    M

    Comment by Matthew — April 9, 2008 #

  9. Arghh I’m in Australia. All of a sudden Maastricht is higher up on my list of destinations

    Comment by lactatingbookworm — April 10, 2008 #

  10. [...] Selexyz Dominicanen, shamelessly plucked sans-permission from KitsuneNoir [...]

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