Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève

The Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève is a public and university library facing the Panthéon in Paris. Designed by Henri Labrouste, it was completed in 1850 and opened the following year. The composition places the main reading room on the upper level, illuminated by large arched windows. Inside, slender cast-iron columns and iron arches create a spacious hall that demonstrates early, expressive use of metal in civic architecture. The masonry street façade is organized in bays and bears the inscribed names of writers and scholars, signaling the building’s purpose. The plan separates reading areas from collections, reflecting rational circulation and functional clarity.