LYCS architecture: jiaxing university library

‘jiaxing university library + media center’ by LYCS architecture, jiaxing, china all images courtesy of LYCS architecture

LYCS architecture has been awarded the winning prize for the ‘jiaxing university library + media center’ to be constructed on a traditional chinese campus in jiaxing. the 42,000 square meter facility is surrounded with water and woods, creating a spatial experience with the hierarchy of private and public spaces. arching up above the earth to form passages, the building reveals an internal courtyard as well as roof garden 35 meters above the ground plane to visitors. this encourages outdoor activity, minimizing the division between existing structures and green spaces. sliced corners from the triangular footprint are replaced with curtain walls to introduce natural illumination.

central courtyard and pool

the first level contain a museum, archive and network center with a library on the second floor. instead of stairs, ramps wrap the interior to minimize obstruction of daylight through the interior. outward views to the encompassing landscape weave the experiences between the outdoors, reading rooms and common areas.

atrium

interior

view from across the lake

aerial view of site

facade patterns are revealed when illuminated at night

site plan

project info:

project name: jiaxing university library & media center architecture design: LYCS architecture architect of record: architectural planning design & research institute of zhejiang university of technology location: jiaxing, china project leader: ruan hao, devin jernigan, zhan yuan project team: vedrana puhalo, jin shanliang, max peterschmidt, li yan, chen rong project period: 2012-2014 size: 42,000 sqm images: courtesy of LYCS architecture