The New Sub-Central Library of Beijing - An Example of Sustainability and the Avant-Garde

The New Sub-Central Library of Beijing - An Example of Sustainability and the Avant-Garde
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The architectural landscape of Beijing, in constant evolution since the last 1990s, has been enriched over time by buildings capable of bringing together avant-garde aesthetics, sustainable technology and the responsible use of resources. The project for the new Sub-Center Library of Beijing by the Norwegian studio Snøhetta is a concrete example of the synergy between smart design, technology and local resources. The complex, the completion of which is slated for the end of 2022, is conceived to create communication between the interior and exterior, thanks to a self-sustaining glass facade - the first of its kind in China - which surrounds the common reading area. Shaped like an amphitheatre, the hall is a place for study but also communication, exchange and dialogue which allows those within the space, as well as those outside, to interact with it. The roof offers another added value - its aesthetic, inspired by the leaves of the gingko biloba, not only recalls the holistic rapport between man and nature, typical of oriental philosophy, but, from a technical standpoint, each pillar that supports it is a structural component which comprises various functions - temperature control, lighting, acoustic comfort and the management of rain water. It is a project which redefines the nature of public and private space and which brings together educational, entertainment and social dimensions in a unique and technologically advanced way.

Manuela Lietti - © 2022 ARTE.it for Bulgari Hotel Beijing