schmidt hammer lassen to design new Ningbo Central Library in Ningbo, China

schmidt hammer lassen architects has been chosen to design the new 30,000 m2 Ningbo Central Library in the coastal city of Ningbo, China.

In an effort to increase the number of visitors, shl's winning design will display the library's collection of more than 2 million books — including the largest number of historic and ancient books in Ningbo, one of China's oldest cities.

The new Ningbo central library is shl's most recent library project, as well as their first one in China.

Check out some images of the project.

Project description:

"Founded in 1927, the Ningbo City Library holds the largest collection of historic and ancient books in the region. The old library attracts 3–4,000 visitors daily. The aim of the new library is to increase the number of visitors to 7–8,000 per day. To deal with this increase the new library will be organized with an open plan layout containing 3,000 study spaces."

"'We have designed a library which is open and accessible. It is organized around an 8,000 square metres open marketplace containing the most popular library functions and collections,” explained Morten Schmidt, partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects. “The marketplace is visually open on all sides connecting to a public plaza and a landscaped ecological park and lake, thus ensuring all interior spaces have a direct connection with the outside.'"

"In the heart of the library is a central atrium in the form of a giant book stack containing study desks, reading booths, internet stations and media spaces. This generous 28-metre-high space connects the marketplace at ground floor level with a series of quieter research spaces and the historic collections above. The atrium provides natural light to the centre of the building during the day and acts as an urban lantern at night."

"From a sustainable viewpoint the library design maximises the use of passive solutions over technological add-ons. For instance the use of natural daylight in all interior spaces is optimized through the building orientation. Natural ventilation will be maximized through the central atrium and the structure of the building will consist of exposed concrete to optimize thermal stability during hot summer months and cool winters."

"'The new library project is part of a transformation that the city of Ningbo is currently undergoing. Our proposal sits at the heart of the new town’s first phase immediately next to the new headquarters for the Ningbo Government. This location alone shows the importance the city has placed on its new Central Library,' said Chris Hardie, associate partner and head of schmidt hammer lassen architects’ Shanghai office."

Project details:

Architect: schmidt hammer lassen architects
Client: City of Ningbo, Ningbo Library
Area: 31,405 square meters
Competition: 1st prize, restricted invited international competition
Status: Expected completion in 2016
Landscape architect: schmidt hammer lassen architects

Images courtesy of schmidt hammer lassen architects.

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