Book Nook: An architect-mom’s page-turner of a concept
Shereen Sy’s favorite school spots are the canteen and the library. It was natural for a Singaporean like her to grow up as a food lover. But as a voracious reader, she also had a dream: a free library for Filipinos in every SM Mall. Thus, Book Nook was born.
“I have two children, and they are usually curious. They stick their heads in a lot of things, and I wanted a safe place for them to learn to interact and to connect. So, for me, I’ve always gravitated toward the library,” she said.
The first one was launched in SM Aura Premier in 2020; following its success, they opened the second one on Aug. 15 at The Podium. “Book Nook is a community learning library. We share stories here … connect people and their hearts,” Sy explained. The driving force behind the project is an architect and the wife of Hans Sy Jr., president of SM Engineering Design and Development Corp. The concept is a vibrant mix of different reading campaigns all over the world that has become a brand of its own. It’s similar to the Little Free Library initiative that originated in Minnesota, USA, where one can share a book and take a book in return. Book Nook has become a venue for storytelling events and book launches.
Like Seoul’s libraries in malls, it’s a safe space for bibliophiles. They can take a break and rest here to browse through the titles available. Sy jokingly added, “No coffee needed!”
When this writer told her that the SM Aura branch is where ballet parents let their children loose after a class while the adults escape for a few minutes, she leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “That’s the idea.”
Collective effort
She may be the face of the project, but Sy says its success is owed it to the collective effort of different individuals.
“It’s about promoting learning. You know, education is an equalizer. It’s also about supporting teachers. I feel teachers have tremendous capacity, and they give so much,” she said. “I think as a mall, the community has given a lot to SM and this is our way of saying, ‘thank you.’”
The public library in The Podium offers a conducive space for reading. It has over 3,000 books, comfortable seating and ample light. It was designed by Royal Pineda, the architect of SM Laoag.
“The idea is to create a micro identity for each project. You can see that the pillars here echo the atrium pillars of The Podium,” Pineda said. “The perforated ceiling is continued in the perforated walls [of the shelves]. The idea is to create an open space because the venue is sandwiched by lights and this for us is a symbol of knowledge and freedom.”
He designed the bookshelves using wire mesh, and curved them to look like scrolls. Visitors can easily see the books from the outside and the curved seats which he also designed.
“These are actually the forms of nature. Now, if you look, look at [the seats], it’s almost like leaves. It’s really an organic contrast against the whites. So we wanted something warm,” he told Lifestyle.
The design is important to Sy. She said she likes to celebrate creativity and she wanted Book Nooks to celebrate the heritage and culture of the Filipinos. Design is the fun part for her.
“You will find that there are elements that you don’t expect in the library,” she said. “So we actually want to reimagine what a library is.”
She chose to work with architect William Ti Jr. for SM Aura and Pineda for The Podium because they are both educators. Sy added, “They are passionate about learning, and they are passionate about sharing knowledge and also inspiring the youth … We all love children and we want to really give the next generation their heritage, their learning.”
Sy’s favorite books growing up included “Nancy Drew” and the “Archie” comics. This is what she wants to impart to parents like her—that there is a way to read for every child. “It doesn’t have to be a book with a lot of words. Just a simple book that a parent can easily read to them. That’s enough.”
