Tianjin Binhai a remarkable library in China
A futuristic design library opened in China, October 2017. Ideally suited to be one of the tourist destinations for your book lover or cool-designed building enthusiast, the library is called Tianjin Binhai.
Its location is in northeast China. Precisely in the Binhai area of Tianjin, a coastal city bordering Beijing City.
It is the center of Education and Culture, as well as the social space and liaison of the local park to the cultural area of Tianjin, designed by Dutch architecture company MVRDV in collaboration with the local architect of the TUPDI (Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute).
The Tianjin Binhai Library has five floors plus one 33,700 square metre basement with a capacity of 1.2 million physical books.
The center of the room is located on a giant ball which is right in the middle of a spacious auditorium on the ground floor. The surrounding is filled with a wavy curve shaped short bookshelf from the floor reaching the room ceiling.
From the visible Interior of the Tianjin Binhai Library is almost similar to Goa, a bookshelf connecting. History and secrets of the construction of the Great Wall of China.
The library was established with a beautiful public space, and the contemporary auditorium is the center. Rows of books appear wavy because the bookshelf is made with curves.
This curve also functions as a ladder, it is accessible to take a book on the upper level, a large space for seating, creating a layered ceiling view, also stimulating the usefulness of different spaces.
The wavy design also gives visitors a stunning impression as if they were walking in the eye. The distinctive science fiction features an optical illusion, which also looks similar to the outside of the eyeball.
Besides the auditorium, the library also has plenty of media space. The first two levels are used as a reading room and lounge area, while meeting rooms, offices, and computer and audio rooms can be found on the upper floors. While on the rooftop there are two terraces open.
Since its inception on October 1, 2017, the library that had been viral on social media in China's popular Weibo was mentioned to have a capacity of millions of books. Meanwhile, there are only 200 thousand books on display for now.
Many visitors feel ' deceived ' because the photos and the reality are different. Apparently most books are made of aluminum discs imitating books.
The design of the Binhai library is beautiful, but it's hard to distinguish which books are true and which ones are lying
The cause related to unilateral ruling from the authorities who revoke the development license MVRDV, and resulted in the Disinthwart the completion of the design concept of the company's initial architecture. The construction itself was completed in just three years and is the fastest project that MVRDV completed to date.
Books that are planned to be displayed in the main auditorium are not allowed. The reason the auditorium is only approved for circulation, reading, sitting, and discussion, is not the place to store books. Also, there is no access to the bookshelf at the top, so it is tricked into the artificial book.
According to the deputy Director of the Library Liu Xiufeng, the library has another room where there is a traditional bookshelf and is actually full of books. He also said the improvement will be done immediately.
Not only that, the design of irregular stairs is also assessed harmful to the safety of visitors. Moreover, there are already slipping victims.
Regardless of all, Tianjin Binhai library remains crowded with visitors, with an average of 15 thousand people visiting on weekends.
As Newsweek mentions, this library is essentially an ambitious investment in an age where more and more readers are choosing alternatives that are easier and cheaper like ebooks.
Sure, librarians around the world are thinking of how to get people to re-read a physical book in a library. And may be, the popularity of the Tianjin Binhai Library is a good indication to begin with.
