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Capital Heyuan · Pinggu Rental Housing Community Library
By : y.ad studio
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture : Grand Winner
Categories : Public Building / Cultural Building : Platinum Winner
The library is a three-story building with a gross floor area of 1,286.25㎡, in which the first floor occupies 524.01㎡, the second floor occupies 400.85㎡, and the third floor occupies 361.39㎡. The spatial functions are carefully planned and designed to cater to functional and sentimental needs.
It accommodates a public leisure zone including a community living room, light meal and coffee, temporary exhibitions, and a screening room, and offers a reading zone including self-study room, creator discussion area, public reading area, and e-reading area. Additionally, the library has a designated children’s education zone that includes children’s reading, family library, and children’s screening room.
The concept behind the first floor was to create a “community living room” that serves as a hub for community socializing. It goes beyond just being a reading room and encompasses a variety of activities such as exhibitions, coffee-sipping, and events that encourage communication and interaction among people.
The second floor has more space for reading, self-study, and work, aiming to provide a space that encourages young people to read, pursue self-study, communicate, and engage in meaningful conversations.
The third floor offers a wide range of activities for families and parent-child bonding, allowing children to read and play with their parents.
A building that incorporates the play of light and shadow can evoke a sense of soulfulness. For those returning home late at night, the presence of light can offer a nourishing experience for the soul.
After analysis of the architectural space, the design team utilized the 14.9-meter-high vertical glass curtain wall that is transparent over through the three floors in the lobby facing the square entrance to create a visual point of interest, drawing the attention of passersby.
Additionally, the south-facing glass curtain wall, overlooking the 50-meter landscape belt and square, blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces and introduces the outdoor landscape into the interior. Outdoor seating areas were designed to provide a space for leisure and communication. Besides, the long skylight brings daylight spanning three stories high and illuminates the atrium with a bright and transparent glow. This design approach successfully guided light and shadow into the interior, creating a unique spatial atmosphere.
Two spatial themes, namely “Container of Light” and “Lit Wall & Book Stairs” were incorporated based on the space features.
By utilizing the front lobby and the transparent glass curtain wall, the design team created layers of book walls to guide the visual focus, which resemble a lighthouse and serve as a spiritual fortress for the community.
The warm tone of the space creates a feeling of comfort and positivity, while the cascading and turning stairs add an element of playfulness and uniqueness to the overall atmosphere.
The high-ceiling atrium was utilized to harness natural daylight in a strategic manner, which created a shift of different moods and elicited emotional responses.
The aim is to cultivate a sense of ritual and create an atmosphere where individuals can find solace and engage in contemplation. The intention is to make the space not only visually captivating but also emotionally stimulating and intellectually intriguing. Additionally, it is hoped that people can perceive the passage of time and experience the dimensionality of space through the interplay of light and shadow.
Collaboration
