Lolling Around

Hennepin County Library—Maple Grove enhanced its outdoor reading porch with Loll Designs’ Adirondack chairs and benches, composed of recycled milk jugs. They encourage folks to step outside and enjoy the “newest community gathering space.” Loll Designs, www.lolldesigns.com

How Your Readers Grow

The Reading Garden adjacent to the Community Room of the Visitacion Valley Branch Library, San Francisco PL, is intended for public events as well as contemplation. Timberform Greenway Contour benches offer comfortable seating. The space was designed by Brian Gatter, Landscape Architect, City and County of San Francisco. Columbia Cascade, Co., www.timberform.com

Cure for the “Ouchies”

Kentwood Branch Library, MI, chose the 35 Collection: Mix from Landscape Forms “because it provides small groupings of comfortable seating along with attached tabletops for drinks, books, etc. The seating is porous so it doesn’t hold water and is coated to avoid the ‘ouch’ factor in the hot sun.” Landscape Forms, www.landscapeforms.com

Artwork Is Phenomenal

Janet Lofquist’s sculpture “Phenomenon” encompasses welded stainless steel rods and glass “rocks” with crystallized surfaces that “catch glints of sunlight.” It completes the landscape of the new Hennepin County Library—Maple Grove. The artist sees it as “a visual metaphor of the creative process and the alchemy of idea and images within the context of the library.” janetlofquist.com

Why Drive When You Can Bike?

A Welle spiral bicycle rack is provided to the right of the entrance of the Visitacion Valley Branch of San Francisco Public Library for sculptural interest in addition to its function as bike parking. Palmer Group, www.bikeparking.com/wellespiral

A Space That Percolates

The entrance to the Visitacion Valley Branch Library of San Francisco Public Library is framed by a pair of Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) in a plaza constructed of permeable Ekopavers. The surface allows rainwater to percolate directly into the ground around the tree roots. The warm tone of the paving is intended to enhance the building finishes. Airostone Corporation, www.airostone.com

Scaling Outdoor Design

The Ortega Branch of San Francisco Public Library features “Abundance” in its landscape from the artist collective Wowhaus. An invitation to commune with the space, the sculpture reflects the local marine life. Wowhaus, www.thewowhaus.com