Location: North Jingtian , Futian District, Shenzhe    Time: 2001    Size: 60000 sqm

We have long been intrigued by the extra high density living conditions of contemporary Chinese cities as well as the resulting urban cultures. The main thread of contemporary architecture has far exceeded the explorations of perfection in both the interior spaces and the exterior form, and has extended its interests to the surrounding city.

Buildings as the physical form standing against the background of the city, demonstrate more of a relationship with the existing urban structure, while the content of buildings are like powerful foots in shaping and stimulating the living conditions. Architecture is above all an urban strategy.

The library and the information center are stacked vertically to form a 60 meter cube which is located on half of the site. Therefore, the eastern part has an extra high density, leaving the western part blank with zero density. This layout has two considerations: on one hand, we try to use the site most efficiently and to provide open public spaces, in order to make the library a real civic center by combining the interior and the exterior spaces of the library. On the other hand a centralized volume formed by distributing programs vertically helps to create a strong contrast with surrounding slabs and towers building in order to become a significant landmark, not by height, but by massing and spatial organization.