Vienna’s architecture is vibrant—the city fuses and finds harmony between the styles of the past and modern forms. With such a concern, the “art and architecture” the bookshop in Museumsquartier supplies this town’s contingency of architects, artists and students with a plethora of visual art and architecture books from which to grab information and inspiration.

Located in the baroque Oval Hall of the Fischer von Erlach Wing in the quartier21, The shop itself is a unique space. Designed by the architectural firm Querkraft—which won the competition for the project—the spacious 250 square meters space was conceived as a “reading arena.” Materials such as oak wood, yellow zinc shelves (which also reflect light) and baroque references emphasis a library atmosphere.

The bookshop’s space reveals its multi-functionality as it is also used as a meeting point for the Austrian and international architectural and cultural scene and a platform for discussion forums, book presentations, and other current events.