Parthenon of Books
In July 2017, the Argentine artist Marta Minujin created a full-scale replica of the Parthenon for the Documenta 14 art festival in Kassel, Germany.
The installation was constructed from books which were censored by Nazi Germany, symbolising resistance to political repression. 100,000 books were sourced from round-the-world donations in collaboration with students at Kassel University.
The books were strapped to the steel frame structure with plastic sheeting, serving a dual function of protecting the books from the weather and allowing natural light to filter through the building.
Minujin chose Athens’ Parthenon as the subject for the installation because it symbolises ‘the aesthetic and political ideals of the world’s first democracy’. The site – Friedrichsplatz, Kassel – is also symbolic, being the place where 2,000 books were burned by the Nazis.
The intention is to recirculate the books once the festival is over.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.