The scheme is a new ‘gateway icon’ for the campus shared by the graduate schools of Peking University, Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology and Nankai University.
The University Town Library provides a new perspective on sharing resources: the library serves three university campuses spread on either side of a canal. The building itself acts as a bridge linking these previously disconnected facilities.
Students, staff and the wider community are free to pass through and over the building to make this connection.
Its 480m long undulating form mirrors the topography of the landscape while its dragon-like shape, contemporary materials and function aim to reflect the erudite language of education.
Glazed façades encourage views out to the surroundings, while providing layers of sun-shading to reduce heat gain on library spaces within. The library was designed to hold 1.5 million books, 3,000 seats, 1,700 data ports and 8,000 visitors daily and sits on a 51,600 m² site in the city of Shenzhen.
Awards:
2007: AIA Hong Kong Chapter Merit Award
2008: The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, International Architecture Award
2008: Hong Kong Design Centre – Design for Asia Merit Award
