Photo | Zhang Yi Ching @zhangyiching
Beijing City Library
The Beijing City Library, located in the Tongzhou District and inaugurated at the end of 2023, integrates natural motifs in its design. As a sub-center of the capital, Tongzhou is considered the eastern gateway near the city center and plays a significant role in urban development. Given its geographical advantages, this area has been developed into a fully functional new community in recent years. Consequently, when visiting the library, one can see new buildings rising along the route. Currently under construction are transit lines connecting to the center of Beijing, which will bring a more convenient lifestyle to the community and potentially create a vibrant cultural and tourist route connecting with the city.
Photo | Zhang Yi Ching @zhangyiching
The library was designed by Snøhetta, an architectural firm with roots in Norway. The design team views this library as a catalyst for cultural development, endowed with the characteristics of a public space. Thus, they created a multifunctional space at its core, resembling a pathway of knowledge through a natural forest and interacting dynamically with the city. This space serves as a cultural venue where people can relax and interact, yet still focus on reading. The overall open and flexible design fosters relationships between people, books, and the natural environment, defining the library's multifunctional attributes.
Photo | Yumeng Zhu @yumeng_zhu_coppakstudio
Photo | Yumeng Zhu @yumeng_zhu_coppakstudio
The building covers a total area of approximately 75,000 square meters and stands about 16 meters tall. It is the first structure in the world to feature an ultra-high self-supporting glass curtain wall and is also the largest climate-controlled reading space globally. Inspired by the Chinese ginkgo tree, 144 tall and slender columns resembling tree trunks are strategically placed throughout the space. The ends of these columns are topped with layered ginkgo leaf-shaped curves that form a lush rooftop, echoing the ginkgo trees planted outside the library. During the day, natural sunlight filters through the gaps between the leaves. The layout includes varying levels of stairs and platforms that house book areas, reading zones, and conference rooms, offering functions that provide privacy and independence. This arrangement is akin to walking through terraced hills of knowledge, creating a space for free relaxation and comfortable reading.
In response to today's trends in energy-saving and carbon reduction, Snøhetta has utilized contemporary architectural materials to minimize energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint. The building’s roof features an overhang of about 16 meters, which complements the recessed low-E glass curtain wall, effectively blocking thermal radiation and reducing indoor energy usage. Additionally, eight sets of BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic systems) are installed in the skylights between the ginkgo leaf-shaped panels, replacing traditional roofing materials. These systems harness natural sunlight to produce renewable energy, generating up to 250,000 kWh of electricity annually. The tree-like columns also integrate technology to control indoor temperature, lighting, and acoustics, and have the capability to collect rainwater. The Beijing City Library connects the community and facilitates the exchange of knowledge, while also introducing new cultural development possibilities to the city through its exploration of technology and architectural design.
Photo | Yumeng Zhu @yumeng_zhu_coppakstudio
