Nanjing Library & Culture Centre

Competition Entry | First Prize Hills punctuate the fabric of Nanjing with areas where the public can access nature, relax, orientate themselves and appreciate the past. The library and cultural center are located on a new distorted landscape that weaves into the existing cultural area containing the Civic Center and Park. The landscape rises by the library and cultural center so that users can familiarize themselves with the city before entering the respective buildings. A Library is a place of contemplation and repose. A Cultural Centre is a place of dynamic interaction with the city. One is introverted, the other extrovert however both release their respective sites to the most important part of public buildings, the public. Our proposal for the Jiangning Library and the Cultural Center takes inspiration from Nanjing’s cultural heritage of being a stone city. The volumnes are expressed in such way showing the duality of the two differnt programs: Library is introverted and the Cultural Centre extroverited. The articulation of the stone facade resembles the richness of stonework, it will be covered with recesses and protrusions emphasising the effects of light and show on the surface. When illuminated by the sunlight, it creats aniated displays of light and shadow. In collaborations with SNØHETTA, LDI: ECADI