La Tete Carrée Library

If blockhead or square-face was your first interpretation of La Tête Carrée Library, it might be just the place for you.

Posing an accusatory and clear metaphor, French artist Sacha Sosno designed this massive sculpture for the Central Library in Nice. Titled "Thinking Inside the Box," the work has a clear but nonetheless important message. At a staggering height of 85 feet, the massive cube-shaped sculpture with a chin, actually houses three floors of books in a perfect melding of art and education.

Although unclear in the bright sunshine of the French Riviera, the floors of the library can be seen at night when it is illuminated through the canvas that covers its exterior. Whether the metaphor applies to you, or another other sun-soaked pedestrian on the streets of Nice, its imposing figure remains intriguing.

Update: As of December 2024, both the library and the entire surrounding square is closed for reconstruction. The library is currently scheduled to reopen at the end of 2025. Until then the head can only be seen from the outside over the construction fences.