[In Progress] Competition - First Prize
In association with Mecanoo
Location: Tainan, Taiwan
Project year: 2016 - 2019
Location: Tainan, Taiwan
Project year: 2016 - 2019
MAYU and Mecanoo’s design for the Tainan Public Library represents the meeting of cultures, generations and histories. Natural materials, like stone and wood, rational yet elegant structural lines and a sensitive use of light characterise the building’s timeless design. Reaching up into the sky, the building’s perimeter increases on each level.
The result is a large canopy that provides shade to the transparent stepped facade and below-grade courtyards. Around the perimeter of the Lower Ground Floor is an outdoor children’s play area. A floor-to-ceiling glazed wall creates a visual connection between the play area and indoor children’s reading room.
A sunken plaza on the same level is a multifunctional outdoor space for hosting talks, exhibitions or social gatherings. The entrance hall rises three levels to show the library’s internal configuration and the layering of floors. The wooden fenestration filters daylight, creating a rhythmic pattern of light on the stone floor.
A sunken plaza on the same level is a multifunctional outdoor space for hosting talks, exhibitions or social gatherings. The entrance hall rises three levels to show the library’s internal configuration and the layering of floors. The wooden fenestration filters daylight, creating a rhythmic pattern of light on the stone floor.
The generous open-plan spaces ensure the library can adapt to future needs. On the top floor, a delicate second skin is wrapped around the building, filtering the light and reducing solar heat gain. An ancient map of Tainan is transposed onto vertical louvres and represents the city’s evolving relationship with its past and the direction towards its future.
