Once a high-end residential area for international expatriates and businessmen from all over the world, contemporary Tunisians have transformed functions of the French colonial architecture along Rue de Angleterre after the French colonial period. Today, the street is known as the ‘library street’ where people from all over Tunis come to purchase second-hand books for a cheaper price at the multiple second-hand bookstores located along the rue. The design intends to return the streets to the people to create a safe environment for people to shop for books. Several interventions were made to preserve and enhance the library culture and neighborhood community of the street such as a book bridge, a study hall extension, and wind towers. Community storage will be located at an empty lot on the street. Just like the bookstores that extend their storefront to the streets, the community storage extends its interior space to the entire street. Furniture is extended to the streets during the day and hosts seasonal book fairs, Iftar during Ramadan, and other large-scale events. The community storage becomes a venue for smaller-scale events, such as Al Hakawati (Arabic storytelling), book reviews, seminars, etc.
