This is Signal vs. Noise, a weblog by 37signals about design, business, experience, simplicity, the web, culture, and more. Established 1999 in Chicago. Visit the Product Blog for more information on our products.

I love how the front of the Libraria da Vila bookstore opens! Having giant swiveling racks of books is such a great way to show the wares on the street to passers-by while also having a nice secure wall to shut tight at night. the overall design looks like Apple opened a book store…

Both very enjoyable experiences… just different.

(BTW, the one in Sao Paulo is actually spelled ‘Livraria’. Obrigado.)

Both are lovely, anyway I like Acqua Alta very much: even in photos I can feel the smell of the books paper …

The second reminds me of the bookstore in Chicago near Damen/Milwaukee/North intersection, name escapes me at the moment.

The 1st bookstore has interesting clean lines and the enormous revolving bookcases are very appealing. Having said that, I would spend much more time shopping in the 2nd bookstore due to its charming atmosphere.

I guess you’d like pictures of El Ateneo, a bookstore in Buenos Aires set up in the building of a classic theater.

The pictures of Acqua Alta remind me of a basement comic book store I loved as a kid. It seems charming in pictures, but I wouldn’t shop in an environment like that. I prefer the large, bright, open space layout in a store just like I prefer clean, functional, uncluttered design in software.

Well, as a software developer, I enjoy the cleanness, order and simplicity.

By the way, in Portuguese, it’s not ‘liBraria’, it’s spelled ‘liVraria’.

Great post!

You’d expect to be able to spot Bernard Black, Manny, or Fran from Black Books in the last photo, I love it!

I love the Livraria da Vila, but my favourite bookshop has to be Daunt Books, a specialist travel bookshop on Marylebone High Street (London). It’s a magnificent old building, full of nooks, and with a magnificent gallery and series of skylights.

Founded by James Daunt, it’s a classic 37s case-study of someone following their passion, and refusing to comprimise their standards whilst remaining successful.

Daunt is a book-buyer’s bookseller of the old school. He only sells titles that he himself would read and he refuses to discount.

Daunt is wary of what he calls “the Waterstone’s brick wall” – when a company reaches the size at which systems and processes overtake passion and instinct.

This is why Daunt is not planning to open many more stores. Indeed, the growth to date has been largely driven by the staff, who are keen to work in an expanding business. Daunt employs 28 people and says that when businesses get above 100 staff they hit this famous wall. “I mean, how many friends can you have?” he asks.

Quotes taken from the Telegraph’s Daunt reworks the plot article.

Disclaimer: I have no connection to Daunt, but I have bought several books from there recently….

Mike,

Myopic Books in Wicker Park, Chicago. Yup, love it too. My favorite way to procrastinate homework during college.

It’s spelled Livraria with a v. It comes from livro (book). And the whole name means: The village’s bookstore. I’m flattered you’ve picked up a brazilian one. Congrats.

Here’s a pic from a bookstore in Salem, MA.

http://www.twitpic.com/arv5i

There were books just stacked, everywhere, even two towers of books on the cashier counter with just enough room to put your money through :)