lacime architects' light-grey 'sky library' in beijing blends in with background horizon

as the world itself has become increasingly rich and complex, people’s ideas have also been extended to an infinitely broad field. buildings are no longer rigidly wedded to certain fixed and commonly known styles and routines, but they are showing more pure possibilities. the design of the lacime architects‘ ‘sky library’ in beijing is such an attempt. from the beginning of the design, it has not been deliberately envisaged about ‘how the appearance of a building should be like’ and is more considered as ‘how the building itself should be’ — a more simple and direct product under the proposition.

all images by peter dixie

looking from the south of the base, chinese based firm lacime architects‘ silver-gray building is quietly placed on the grassy slope. the just body and the material of diffuse aluminum plate form dramatic experience, which makes the building appear to be well-defined and similar to blend the background sky. gradually approaching the main entrance on the west side, the landscape of the building has undergone a fundamental change again — from the aluminum skin that is completely closed on the south side to the ultra-white glass curtain wall that is completely transparent on the west side; from the natural grassy grass slopes on the south side to the west side of the large-span floor overhead, artificial design of the strong pool and metal ramps. it seemed as if the building itself cuts two completely different worlds.

it isn’t about ‘how the appearance of a building should be like’, but ‘how the building itself should be’

the design of the lacime architects’ ‘sky library’ is dismantled into the design of each scene, and it is refused to simply unify its style. for example, the irregular fold-lined wood grain board is boldly applied at the entrance awning, which is a powerful element of the entrance space; the south side of the building continues to the side of the public green space. most of the first floor is buried under the grass slopes, and subtly concealed a small, exquisite, natural and rich courtyard, which contrasts sharply with the clear spatial relationship on the north side.

lacime architects’ silver-gray building is quietly placed on the grassy slope

except the ‘freedom’ of building of its own, lacime architects hope that the relationship between the architecture and the urban environment is also ‘free’. therefore, a completely open and passable bottom shelf space has been made at the main entrance on the west side and a ‘yard’ with blurred boundaries has been created inside the site. the architects think that the definition of yard should not be limited to fixed format. thus, a half-empty ramp making the internal and external courtyards into vague division has been attempted, which continues echoing the design concept of the ‘freedom’ from the ambiguous relation of space.

the building appears to be well-defined and similar to blend the background sky

standing on the square in front of the ‘beijing jade academy sky library’, you can choose to go directly through the pool into the main entrance under the pleated canopy, or you can choose to experience the feeling of the hanging gardens upward along the ramp; coming out from the second floor of the library, you can walk through the garden to experience the upper model house, or you can walk down the winding landscape stairs to reach the sinking courtyard. lacime architects are committed to giving more possibilities to human activities, allowing users to fully exert their subjective initiative in the building. in the increasingly complex and diversified functions and modes of use of buildings, architects should not be self-reliant, but should give more possibilities to actual users. the use of human activities is the soul of space.

architects should not be self-reliant, but should give more possibilities to actual users

the main body of the building consists of a light grey aluminum plate with an ultra-white glass as the main façade effect, with parklex wood added as a decoration. the glass itself has light-transmitting permeability and reflectivity, and the diffuse reflection of the aluminum plate also forms a reflection effect on the surrounding environment, forming a subjective reflection and integration of the building on the natural environment, reaching a design theme of ‘dialogue with nature’ on the other hand.

approaching the entrance on the west side, the landscape of the building has undergone a fundamental change

the irregularly arranged aluminum plates on the west facade of the building are not only the elements of the facade, but also the sun visors that block the sun. with the change of light in the day, light acts as an independent material to participate in the building. the aluminum plates exhibit different shades as the intensity of sunlight changes. the glass shades also have the color of the sky and the internal lighting. the calm water then incorporates the building and the sky, and the repeated light reflections make the edges of the building repetitive.

the irregular fold-lined wood grain board is boldly applied at the entrance awning

the building consists of a light grey aluminum plate with an ultra-white glass as the main facade effect

with the change of light in the day, light acts as an independent material to participate in the building

the glass itself has light-transmitting permeability and reflectivity

the glass shades also have the color of the sky and the internal lighting

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom