In addition to the functional aspect of its circular path, the figure of the cloister signals the garden as an object of contemplation; it orders the interior spaces into a whole, notably through the balance between light and shadow, solid and void. A little parcel, rectangular in form, cut out of the forest of Île-de-France is transported to and encased in the heart of the Bibliothèque, its canopy slightly emerging above the esplanade. The cloister offers the garden for contemplation and provides access to the reading rooms laid out on two levels: the garden level is reserved to researchers, the upper level overlooking the garden is open to the general public.