National Library of China

Exterior view of the competition winning design for the library.

Project Details

• Project Name: The National Library of China
• Client: National Library of China
• Project Type: Architectural Design
• Principal Designer: KSP Engel und Zimmermann Architects in cooperation with ECADI- East China Architecture Design Institute
• Date of commencement of project: January 2005
• Date of completion of project (estimated): December 2007
• Location of site: Beijing, China

View of the main entrance to the library.

The Building

This winning design results from an international competition of nine invitees. A second building stage, it extends the Chinese National Library by 77,000 sq. mt. which accommodates 12 million books and provides services for 12,000 visitors per hour. The library's greatest treasure is the "Siku Quanshu" collection -- a catalogue of Chinese culture -- which is housed in a glass vault in the plinth of the library, and visible at all times. The design derives largely from this collection.

Interior view of the reading rooms in the library.

Surrounding the collection are the subsequent layers of cultural development; the larger space of a contemporary library with its reading rooms, equipment and reference library. Above, the "floating" roof houses the digital library synonymous with the electronic connection to the modern world. The symbolic layers of past, present and future are thus represented in the design of the library.

Section through the library revealing the underground storeys.

The library incorporates five underground storeys. The building is horizontally articulated and organised, and is approached via the grand stair at the second level. From this vantage point visitors can view the entire library with its large-span steel roof construction. The glazed rear wall enhances orientation and connects the library with the outside world.

The architectural language of the library is based upon traditional Chinese elements. The plinth, columns and roof are stylistic elements which were traditionally reserved for official constructions, while the two upper levels are reminiscent of a book supported by sloping columns. The contemporary interpretation appropriates these traditional elements allowing the modern structure to exist within a compatible historical framework.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy of the architect
• Computer rendered images: Courtesy of the architect
• Compiled and edited by Varun Ajani