BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
If a book is a gift one can open again and again, then the newly opened Book Nook at The Podium is a gift that keeps on giving.
Building on the success of its first location at SM Aura, the Book Nook recently launched its second branch at the fifth level of The Podium in Ortigas. This new chapter ushers in an exciting milestone for Book Nook, as it continues to empower Filipinos through literacy, self-expression and communal giving.
The idea of building the Book Nook first crossed architect Sheeren Sy’s mind in 2019. “I have two children and they are usually curious and they stick their heads into a lot of things and I wanted a safe place for them to learn to interact and to connect,” says Sy. For her, that place has always been the library. Ergo, the Book Nook was born in December 2020.
A simple yet impactful book-sharing initiative she encountered in Melbourne, Australia inspired Sy to create a similar space in the Philippines. But on top of promoting reading, her vision also encourages communal unity—a hallmark of the Filipino value of “bayanihan.”
As a visitor, one can enjoy at the Book Nook a moment or two reading books from all sorts of genres for free. You can also drop off some of your old books, to put them to better use.
A Royal effort
Incidentally, there’s another architect who also passionately contributed to the project. The new Book Nook branch, in fact, is a masterpiece by renowned Filipino architect Royal Pineda of Royal Pineda + Architecture Design. Pineda, celebrated for his work on iconic projects such as the New Clark International Airport and the Philippines Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020, lends his visionary touch to the Book Nook. He has transformed the space into a community-centric hub that nurtures learning, sharing and social interaction.
Much like its simple yet functional concept, the Book Nook’s physical design is a continuous flow of space that seamlessly blends form and function. “The idea is to create space from local, simple materials and elevate them from nothing,” says Pineda, pointing to the steel mesh structure that serves as enclosures and book shelves for the area. “For instance, this steel mesh is just an ordinary material you probably see in your screen doors, but our craftsmen and team elevated it.”
Elevated, indeed, as one would find in the Book Nook an open and elegantly appointed space. Locally crafted wooden seating with curvilinear shapes, and a matching counter at the reception area, for instance set the stage for this reading paradise – giving each visitor a separate, yet somewhat unenclosed area to enjoy their books.
With this said, it’s time to drop off those books at the Book Nook (whether in SM Aura or at the Podium) and help in opening a world of adventure to a new generation of readers.
