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All France Nice La Tete Carrée Library

La Tete Carrée Library

This massive blockhead sculpture hides an entire library.

Nice, France

Added By
ser flac
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La Tete Carrée Library   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
La Tete Carrée Library   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
La Tete Carrée Library   mofetos on Flickr
La Tete Carrée Library   Paul Stevenson on Flickr
La Tete Carrée Library   Gradys Kitchen on Flickr
La Tête Carrée   murasane
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About

If blockhead or square-face was your first interpretation of La Tête Carrée Library, it might be just the place for you.

Posing an accusatory and clear metaphor, French artist Sacha Sosno designed this massive sculpture for the Central Library in Nice. Titled "Thinking Inside the Box," the work has a clear but nonetheless important message. At a staggering height of 85 feet, the massive cube-shaped sculpture with a chin, actually houses three floors of books in a perfect melding of art and education.

Although unclear in the bright sunshine of the French Riviera, the floors of the library can be seen at night when it is illuminated through the canvas that covers its exterior. Whether the metaphor applies to you, or another other sun-soaked pedestrian on the streets of Nice, its imposing figure remains intriguing.

Update: As of December 2024, both the library and the entire surrounding square is closed for reconstruction. The library is currently scheduled to reopen at the end of 2025. Until then the head can only be seen from the outside over the construction fences.

Related Tags

Monuments Statues Outsider Architecture Libraries

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

Simpluree, Allison, atimian, murasane

  • Simpluree
  • Allison
  • atimian
  • murasane

Published

December 2, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.strangebuildings.com/la-tete-au-carre-nice-france/
  • http://www.bmvr-nice.com.fr/OPACWebAloes/index.aspx?IdPage=76
  • http://www.nice.fr/Culture/Lecture/Bibliotheque-Louis-NUCERA
La Tete Carrée Library
Esplanade Kennedy
Nice, 06000
France
43.703036, 7.2791
Get Directions

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