Ask an architect to name one or a few favourite buildings and surely a library will be on that list. Stockholm Public Library by Gunnar Asplund, Kahn's Exeter Academy Library in New Hampshire, or Seattle Central Library by Rem Koolhaas represent just a few much-celebrated imaginative examples of what a library building could be. Along with such building types as museums and theaters, libraries have become architects’ most desired public commissions to advance their thinking and experimentation. And unlike museums and theaters, libraries are free to visit and, curiously, finding one’s favourite book may be just one of a hundred different reasons for going to a modern-day library. I may step into my own neighbourhood library, the Queens Public Library at Hunters Point in Long Island City simply to extend my regular walk along the East River or to meet a friend to admire this Steven Holl-designed space together before going elsewhere. It is the intriguing section of this 2019 building that architect and educator Steffen Lehmann placed on the cover of his new book Reimagining the Library of the Future published by ORO Editions.

Climate change threatens almost every aspect of our lives.

Houses surrounding a cul-de-sac and areas of neatly trimmed grass form an idyllic suburban neighborhood, with enough room for parked cars, a fire pit and maybe even a community gym or play area.

Having bright colours and greenery in our cities can make people happier and calmer, according to an unusual experiment involving virtual reality headsets.