Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta have won the task of creating a new structure for Beijing’s Sub-Center Library and plan to make the most of the grand commission with a design that features China’s first ever self-supporting glass exterior. Keen to make the most of the natural environment, the design – set to be completed at the latter end of 2022 – seeks inspiration from the country’s native gingko tree in the form of a collection of 18-meter-high columns that fan out into blooms as they reach the ceiling and support the vast canopy roof. The tree-like columns run throughout the space and conjure a direct relationship with the exterior setting, with massive walls of glass avoiding a sense of disconnection from the inside and out. In addition to the library, reading rooms and study spaces are integrated into the space with bleacher-style terracing. In the eyes of the architects, in opening itself to the world with its transparent shell, the library will foster a welcoming spirit to the community passing by. See more work by Snøhetta here, and on Instagram.
Images © Snøhetta / copyright holders