2024-05-18T10:48:28-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150418044/sn-hetta-unveils-newly-completed-beijing-city-library-design Josh Niland 2024-02-26T19:31:00-05:00 >2024-03-15T01:45:58-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/d6/d66efb65eb382c23b2f01436ad6b7287.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><a href="https://archinect.com/snohetta" target="_blank">Sn&oslash;hetta</a> has shared new photos of its completed Beijing City Library design in the Chinese capital.&nbsp;</p> <p>What is billed by the team to be the "world's largest climatized reading space" is composed of a glass curtain wall fronted by a forest of sculptural columns resembling ginko trees in a design that harkens the natural landscape to affect an "emotional connection" between people, books, and the environment.&nbsp;</p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/6d/6d043abee373d7b2e83a3075f0feaa87.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/6d/6d043abee373d7b2e83a3075f0feaa87.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Photo: Yumeng Zhu</figcaption></figure><p>Sn&oslash;hetta says this is meant to challenge contemporary thinking on libraries and to disabuse designers (and critics) of the notion that the typology has become largely outmoded in the digital age.<br></p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/74/7421fe6bd1fb23bceb093212c1d46fa7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/74/7421fe6bd1fb23bceb093212c1d46fa7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Photo: Yumeng Zhu</figcaption></figure><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/cd/cd0a9cb91a2b6d31f1f77184fa3fae98.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/cd/cd0a9cb91a2b6d31f1f77184fa3fae98.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Photo: Yumeng Zhu</figcaption></figure><p>Located in the city&rsquo;s Tongzhou District, the library design was born out of a 2018 competition that paired the firm with local studio <a href="https://archinect.com/ECADI" target="_blank">ECADI</a>. Their effort was replete with integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) construction elements and other features aiming to reduce solar gain. This combines with the use of locally sourced construction materials...</p>