The one word you usually associate with a library is ‘quiet’, but step into this library and you’re greeted with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a DJ booth with a massive sound system. Designed almost as if libraries met counterculture, this is the ‘Nude Library’ – a streetwear store in Barcelona, Spain.
This space doesn’t whisper sophistication the way a conventional library does; instead, it cranks up the volume and tells you to pay attention. Designed by El Departamento for the Nude Project’s flagship store in La Roca Village, it’s where architecture meets attitude. The shelves frame the room like a stage, elevating the DJ booth—literally and metaphorically—into the spotlight. When the music starts, the sound resonates off the wood, filling the space with energy. A librarian worth their salt wouldn’t survive a day in this place!
Designer: El Departamento
The Nude Project is a brand that champions creativity and self-expression, a philosophy echoed throughout its flagship store. Known for its bold streetwear that blends urban aesthetics with artistic flair, the Nude Project caters to a young, vibrant audience. The store’s prime objective isn’t to purely sell clothes—it’s to cultivate a community. By incorporating design, music, and a striking visual narrative, the Nude Library becomes more than a retail space; it’s a hub for inspiration and individuality.
What’s genius here is the flow of the design. The shelves serve as the backbone of the room, giving it warmth and depth. The wood’s natural texture feels grounding, a perfect counterpoint to the industrial coolness of the sound system integrated within. That DJ booth doesn’t just sit there awkwardly; it fits, almost too perfectly, as if the entire space was built around it. There’s something irresistibly cheeky about the way it all comes together—a space that takes itself seriously but doesn’t lose its sense of fun.
Beyond the music and the drama of the shelves, there’s an intentional softness tucked away in the fitting room. Baby blue tones dominate here, with rounded forms and a sense of calm that feels like a deliberate contrast to the rest of the store’s boldness. It’s a thoughtful touch, giving visitors a moment to pause and reset before diving back into the high-energy main floor. It’s this kind of balance that makes the design feel alive, like it’s breathing with you as you move through it.
The unique juxtaposition of a library with a club make the store a place you can’t ignore. It’s the kind of store that makes you linger, not because you’re shopping but because the space itself is an experience. The shelves tell one story, the music tells another, and somehow they’re all part of the same conversation. It’s not just retail; it’s an interaction, a memory, a reason to return.
Sure, libraries are supposed to be quiet. But this one throws that idea out the window, replacing it with beats, energy, and creativity. The Nude Library rewrites the rules and then plays them at full volume.
