National Taipei University Library

Company: J.C. Architecture, LIAO Architect & Associates

Lead designers: Johnny Chiu, Kuo-Cheng Liao

Design team : Ze-Yi Jiang, Shang-Min Yan, Pei-Geng Ling, Yu-Fen Zhuang, Jian-Wei Huang, Chun-Ru Su; Shi-Jie Wang; Xiang-Qun Yang

National Taipei University Library, located
in Sansia, New Taipei City, embraces the
local culture of Sansia Old Street and the
history of porcelain art in Yingge District in
northern Taiwan.

The architecture is divided into two
individual buildings, library and information
center. A green pathway, “Social
Boulevard”, is aligned with the center of
the campus, through the lawn, to the gate
stretching out connecting the library.
Where teachers and students will have
more interaction and more communication
can be created. Social Boulevard is
continued through information center all
the way to the artificial lake with outdoor
live performance and the view of
mountains. Wisdom

Defining each building space for its
flexibility of functions, the reading section
is located in between the two building, to
provide a new reading experience. The
natural light comes between the buildings
also bringing in the breeze flowing through
space, and to deliver a picturesque
feature.

For the exterior design, we wanted to
create a signature which relates to the
library itself, books. So we turned the
actions of people taking the book out of
the shelf and literally opening a book into
the gentle curves with a soft texture as
the facade of the building. Its design
combining with windows also brings plenty
of indirect skylights into the library, which
creates a romantic atmosphere within the
space for people to indulge in. Also
influencing the exterior design as an
organic element is the surrounding nature,
landscape and ripples of the lake.

To “open” the library space meaning to
open the knowledge, an open experiment
for everyone, no restriction with walls but
only natural sunlight fulfilling space. The
wealth of knowledge is not only being
collected from the books, but also through
communication, nature environment, and
architecture, most importantly from the
interaction of people. Information flows in
the surrounding to provide a positive and
self-active learning environment. National
Taipei University Library is beyond more
than just an ordinary library could provide.