20 of the Most Exquisite Libraries in the World

VANCOUVER CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, CANADA

If the Vancouver Central Public Library looks familiar to you, that’s because it was modeled after another famous building: Rome’s iconic Colosseum. The nine-floor library complex takes up an entire city block, and includes office space, coffee shops, and retail on the ground floor. One of its most striking features is a rooftop garden—alas, it’s not open to the public, but you can request special permission to check it out.