A new local library in China, designed by Chinese architecture firm Condition_Lab, has been modeled after a traditional Dong timber house. Nestled in a primary school’s courtyard, the Pingtan Book House offers an inviting haven to the 400 children who reside in Tongdao Province’s village of Pingtan. Rather than blending into its 20-year-old concrete surroundings, this studio saw an opportunity to bring empathy and cultural relevance to the area by creating something that embraced nature instead.
Condition_Lab creatively designed a sloped, tiled roof and mortise-and-tenon construction from the local vernacular to draw attention to the soon-to-be-lost historical structures around them. The studio explains in their statement, “Entire villages constructed with just one sustainable material — China Fir — over centuries are rapidly erasing what makes this region unique. Dong’s cultural identity is threatened as it struggles between modernizing and retaining its heritage.”
Condition_Lab is unwavering in its belief that connection and interaction within our designs and between people are crucial to achieving meaningful social impact. Our ethos:
- Format should be accessible regardless of financial resources.
- Architecture must always serve a purposeful aim.
- Great ideas can transcend high-end projects.
To create a lively indoor area where children could explore, sit and read comfortably, the designers developed an ingenious concept: replacing rooms and doors with two intertwined staircases in the shape of a double helix. Taking advantage of the vertical space, bookshelves fill the walls between staircases and tall windows highlight views from each level. The steps double as a cozy nook for kids to relax and appreciate the whole picture through airy balustrades up or down three stories.
Condition_Lab utilizes thoughtfully crafted design to create meaningful impact, and you can get more insights into the studio’s work on its website or Instagram.
