Architect(s): KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten
Address: Zi Zhu Qiao, Haidian, BEIJING, China
Latitude/Longitude: 39.944093,116.317067
Photographs: Hans Schlupp
Client : National Library of China
Competition : 2003, 1st Prize
Reading Seats : 2,000
Books : 12 Mio.
The award among contestants taking part in the bidding competition in 2003 was given to KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten. The task to be fulfilled was to expand the existing library by adding a second tract to the building with a total space of 77,000sqm that was to house 12 million books. The existing old building that is protected as a historic monument is to stay inact and will only be attached to the new tract using light bridges. The “digital library” is an important trend-setting component included in the expansion. The “Si Ku Quan Shu” collection is of historic significancce and culturally not to be surpassed, and will also be housed in the new building.
