Why does this building look like a jade seal? This is the Beijing Library. It is a place where books meet nature. This library is not just a place for books. It’s a place for people. It is a place for community.
The Beijing Library opened on December 27, 2023. It quickly became one of Beijing’s major cultural hubs. The library joined with the Hua Wei Qiao branch and the Daxing Airport branch of Capital Library. Together they form the “One Library, Three Locations” pattern.
The library covers about 75,000 square meters. Its design draws from the Chinese “Red Seal.” From above, the library looks like a jade seal on the Central Green Forest Park scroll. Inside, the roof is like a forest canopy. It is filled with ginkgo leaves. These create a natural, calming environment.
The Beijing Library cost 1.415 billion RMB to build. China Railway Construction Group Co., Ltd. constructed it. The contract was worth 1.187 billion RMB. Construction began in late October 2019. By the Spring Festival of 2021, the library was rising from the ground. The outside was done by the end of 2021.
Snøhetta, a Norwegian firm, designed the library. They wanted to bring nature inside. The library’s columns look like ginkgo trees. Ginkgo trees have existed for 290 million years. The library is in Tongzhou District. It is Beijing’s sub-center and eastern gateway. The Beijing Library helps make Tongzhou a lively area. It connects it to Beijing.
The Beijing Library wants to be more than just a book storage. It wants to be a center for learning and culture. It provides spaces for exhibitions, performances, and conferences. There is even space for restoring old books.
Inside, you will find a large forum. It is almost 16 meters tall. Terraces rise from it. There is also a path called the Valley. The Valley is like the nearby Tonghui River. It links the north and south entrances. Terraced hills create an indoor landscape. People can relax, talk, or read. Semi-private areas and conference rooms are in the hills.
The building has glass walls. These walls let nature in. The columns look like trees and support the roof. The roof has ginkgo leaf shapes. These shapes filter the sunlight. Real ginkgo trees grow at the entrances.
The Beijing Library is also eco-friendly. It has earned China’s highest sustainability rating. The library uses less energy. The columns collect rainwater. The roof has solar panels. These panels make energy.
Kjetil Trædal Thorsen from Snøhetta said libraries are here to stay. He believes it is important to connect people with books and nature. Robert Greenwood from Snøhetta said the library feels like sitting under a tree, reading. The Beijing Library mixes nature, reading, and community. It is a special place where everyone can enjoy learning.