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National Library of China
National Library of China
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Other Projects by KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten
National Library of China
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2008
SIZE
1,000,000 +
The task was to extend the existing library
by 77.000 m² in order to accommodate approximately 12 million books, some 12,000
people per day visit the National Library. An important future oriented part of the
extension of the existing library is the “Digital Library”. Unparalleled in its historical and
cultural significance, the “Si Ku Quan Shu” collection is also housed in the new
building. The Si Ku Quan Shu is the collection of manuscripts, produced on the orders of Chinese
Emperor Ch’ein Lung (1736 – 1795) of the Ch’ing dynasty (1644 – 1912). During
his reign he had made copies of all documents relating to Chinese culture,
effectively preserving for the modern age this valuable wealth of knowledge
spanning thousands of years.
The KSP Jürgen
Engel Architekten design is based on this collection, which is
housed in the building’s base. Located around the base
on several levels, recalling archaeological layers of culture, is the large space
containing the contemporary library with reading rooms, reference works and a reference
library. Above this on the top floor, under a roof that seems almost to float, is the
digital library – synonym for the future, global communication and networking. This simple
symbolism of linking together past, present and future, as inter-reliant and
simultaneously merging elements, lends the design
cogency.
The enormous rectangular building ensemble,
measuring 90 by 119 meters, is horizontally organized, and developed. The
library is surrounded by an austerely laid-out garden, which serves to further
underline the building’s well-defined appearance. It is through the garden and a geometrically
arranged grove at the entrance to the library that the visitor approaches the building. The
entry to the library is via broad steps set between two lower building sections, which
lead into the third story. From here the visitor has a view out over the entire
library and into the extensive steel structure spanning the roof. This
structure rests on the base at six points, and these support the roof, while leaving the remainder of the large
space open. The various levels merge into each other; rows of books alternate with
reading areas, stairs and escalators provide access to the various stories; it is possible
to look into the digital library on the top floor. There is daylight everywhere and the
inward-looking focus typical of most libraries has been deliberately avoided.
As the centre and core of the library, the
glazed vault for the Si Ku Quan Shu collection of China’s written cultural
heritage, bound in wooden panels, is always visible, and transparent. Looking
at the library form outside, the upper two stories have the appearance of a
large book with gently rounded contours, held by slanting supports, which towers
over the stories below.
by 77.000 m² in order to accommodate approximately 12 million books, some 12,000
people per day visit the National Library. An important future oriented part of the
extension of the existing library is the “Digital Library”. Unparalleled in its historical and
cultural significance, the “Si Ku Quan Shu” collection is also housed in the new
building. The Si Ku Quan Shu is the collection of manuscripts, produced on the orders of Chinese
Emperor Ch’ein Lung (1736 – 1795) of the Ch’ing dynasty (1644 – 1912). During
his reign he had made copies of all documents relating to Chinese culture,
effectively preserving for the modern age this valuable wealth of knowledge
spanning thousands of years.
The KSP Jürgen
Engel Architekten design is based on this collection, which is
housed in the building’s base. Located around the base
on several levels, recalling archaeological layers of culture, is the large space
containing the contemporary library with reading rooms, reference works and a reference
library. Above this on the top floor, under a roof that seems almost to float, is the
digital library – synonym for the future, global communication and networking. This simple
symbolism of linking together past, present and future, as inter-reliant and
simultaneously merging elements, lends the design
cogency.
The enormous rectangular building ensemble,
measuring 90 by 119 meters, is horizontally organized, and developed. The
library is surrounded by an austerely laid-out garden, which serves to further
underline the building’s well-defined appearance. It is through the garden and a geometrically
arranged grove at the entrance to the library that the visitor approaches the building. The
entry to the library is via broad steps set between two lower building sections, which
lead into the third story. From here the visitor has a view out over the entire
library and into the extensive steel structure spanning the roof. This
structure rests on the base at six points, and these support the roof, while leaving the remainder of the large
space open. The various levels merge into each other; rows of books alternate with
reading areas, stairs and escalators provide access to the various stories; it is possible
to look into the digital library on the top floor. There is daylight everywhere and the
inward-looking focus typical of most libraries has been deliberately avoided.
As the centre and core of the library, the
glazed vault for the Si Ku Quan Shu collection of China’s written cultural
heritage, bound in wooden panels, is always visible, and transparent. Looking
at the library form outside, the upper two stories have the appearance of a
large book with gently rounded contours, held by slanting supports, which towers
over the stories below.
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