vector architects turns traditional chinese courtyard into multi-functional community library

vector architects has turned a traditional chinese courtyard and its surrounding buildings into a library fit for contemporary use. the ‘suochengli neighborhood library’ is located in yantai, a port city in eastern china’s shandong province, and occupies a plot in one of the city’s most historic districts. the setting had been frequently modified over the years, and the architects were keen to preserve the building’s ‘precious traces of time’.

all images by su shengliang © vector architects

vector architects began by systematically restoring the site’s original architecture — including the walls, doors, windows, roofs, and flooring. the design team then divided the courtyard into several smaller sections, with a multi-functional public space at the center and three areas of vegetation at the perimeter. surrounding the courtyard, a cloister serves as the primary circulation route, while visitors access the library via a welcoming entrance that reaches out into the adjacent alley.

the library occupies a plot in one yantai’s most historic districts

weathering steel, a material that complements the historic brick, stone, and tile, has been used throughout the renovation. the cloister system is supported on steel columns, with the canopy also serving as a rain gutter. the largest indoor space is the reading room, which also features an area for children. an on-site café is served by an adjacent kitchen, while, opposite, an indoor gallery provides space for exhibitions and events.

visitors access the site via a welcoming entrance that reaches out into the adjacent alley

‘we believe that the architecture of our time should, in an intelligent way, reveal and reactivate the historical assets and local cultures,’ explains vector architects. ‘the library would retain both the lifestyle and pace of the local community, while serving as a practice of contemporary culture and aesthetics of modern society. within the space, where a dialogue between the new and the old would be cultivated, the energy and vitality from local communities could be stimulated, further contributing to the knowledge production and dissemination as well as space sharing.’

the site’s original architecture has been systematically restored

the design team divided the courtyard into several smaller sections

a cloister serves as the primary circulation route

the largest indoor space is the library’s reading room

the space also features a separate area for children

the cloister functions as a rain shelter during bad weather conditions

weathering steel has been used throughout the renovation

the project serves as a vibrant cultural destination for the community

1/12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

location: no.12 shiyan street, chefoo district, yantai, china
client: yantai chuangyuan culture communication co.,ltd
design firm: vector architects
principal architect: gong dong
project architect: han zhang
construction management: yang zhou
site architect: dan zhao
design team: zhoujie chen, dan zhao, jacopo ruggeri, simin li, yeqian tan
structural and MEP consultants: zhigang ma, xiaolei zhao, gong han
materials: weathering steel, pebbledash, melamine board
building area: 150 sqm / 1,615 sqf
design period: december 2016 – january 2017
construction period: march 2017 – july 2017