Schmidt Hammer Lassen has a long list of libraries (including the Royal Library in Copenhagen) with eight completed and four currently under construction, Ningbo’s will be the first in China. schmidt hammer lassen’s most recently completed library is the Aberdeen University New Library, which won the award a Best new building – 2013 RIBA. Under construction are.- Aarhus’s new public library, Dokk1, the Scandinavia’s largest library, and Halifax Central Library in Canada. Both will be completed in 2014.
Project synopsis
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.
The building is organized around an 8,000 square metres open marketplace containing the most popular library functions and collections. 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.
CREDITS
Competition.- Ningbo City Library International Competition.
Architects.- schmidt hammer lassen architects.
Landscape Architects.- schmidt hammer lassen architects.
Clients.- City of Ningbo, Ningbo Library.
Area.- 31405.00 m²
Completion Year.- 2016.
