Ostinata Library

Ostinata is a library for the neighbourhood, born in December 2022 in the heart of Porta Romana in Milan, from the idea of making books from a private collection freely available. The space on the street front has been set up by Produzione Privata, the experimental design workshop of AMDL CIRCLE, which has designed ad hoc modular bookcases arranged flush with the wall, folding tables, agile seating and a dedicated lighting system by Artemide. Thanks to the flexible furnishings, the reading room can be transformed into an ideal space for events and conviviality. The cosy atmosphere of Ostinata is provided by the well-dosed light that illuminates the long rows of books stored on wooden shelves and organised into categories through a system of wooden bookends and custom-made metal dividers.

In Produzione Privata's design, the shelves of the modules are of varying depth and height, sloping upwards to create a 'mountain' of books to climb. A capacious chest of drawers acts as a base and a step to reach the volumes at the top. Oak tables with essential lines occupy the central space and, thanks to the folding top, can be stowed away to make room for side events. The iconic Sedia 2007 by Produzione Privata, transformed ad hoc into an upholstered armchair, and the agile Possum stool complete the furnishing system. An aerial structure in black metal integrates with the pre-existing ceiling of wood and iron beams and constitutes the track on which spotlights are housed for precise lighting that enhances the books on display.