Taiwan-based architecture practice MAYU architects has completed the extension and renovation of an existing cultural center, which was originally built in 1983. 

Named Pingtung Public Library, the building is located in the middle of the Millennium Park of Pingtung City, Taiwan and was transformed from an existing cultural center by offering transparency, fluidity and vitality.

Façade of New Lobby

Characterised by a transparent façade and V-shaped steel structural elements, the façade of the building provides a porous appearance that gives the identity of the building and reflects its interior. 

"The main objective of the transformation is to introduce transparency and accessibility to the once hermetic building and its disoriented landscaping," said MAYU Architects. 

Corridor

At urban scale, the studio adds a transparent new lobby to the western side of the existing building. It turns the architectural axis and approach 90 degree in order to make the library face the city directly. 

Devising a new guiding approach for visitors, instead of arriving through a series of formal boulevards and plazas, the studio creates "a forest-like arcades" before entering the library. 

Façade of Old Library

"Therefore, the architecture is more attuned to the physical and psychological conditions of contemporary library readers," added the office.

The new lobby is drawn with a parallelogram plan, while is supported by a continuous V-shaped steel structure. 

Exhibition

The studio creates several "activity Islands" in the interiors, including a sunken seating area, a floating mezzanine, and a pair of suspended lanterns. The expanded glass curtain walls link the interior to the exterior, revealing the activities of the library to the city, and vice versa.

At architectural scale, the studio also transformed the original entrance lobby into a wooden reading room, and its three levels of compact book storage into a bright, multi-functional atrium, the originally fragmented and congested building becomes fluid and identifiable. 

Lobby

The studio added two distinct staircases, one spiral and one stair-seating, complementing the reader’s circulation path, while providing various seating types and opportunities along the journey. 

"Taking advantage of surrounding park views, an open floor plan, and natural materiality, the library programming and furniture deployments can achieve individuality, flexibility, and a sense of intimacy that are important characteristics of contemporary libraries," the office added.

Cafe

The exterior of the original structure is now wrapped in white aluminum panels and louvers. An arcade extends from the original entrance to function as an in-between space between the reading room and the lawn, which was transformed from the depleted entrance plaza. 

Cafe

The landscape was also redesigned to connect the library seamlessly to its surrounding park, inviting citizens to use this new public space regardless of their purpose.

Senior's Atrium

Atrium

Reading Area

Children's Library

Entrance of Children's Library

Reading Area

Young Adult's Atrium

Young Adult's Atrium

Figure Ground

Site plan

First floor plan

Second floor plan

Third floor plan

Fourth floor plan

Fifth floor plan

Section AA'

Section BB'

MAYU architects was founded in 1999 as Ma-Lone Chang Architects, and later renamed Ma-Lone Chang and Yu-lin Chen Architects. The interdisciplinary practice is based in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Project facts

Project name: Pingtung Public Library

Location: No. 69, Dalian Road, Pingtung City

Construction Material: Steel & Reinforced Concrete 

Site Area: 59289.53 m2

Building Area: 2416.26 m2

Total Floor Area: 8596.86 m2

Number of Stories: 6 + 1 (basement)

Overall Design Time: 2017/4 ~ 2018/2

Overall Construction Time: 2018/5 ~ 2020/2

All images © Yuchen Chao Photography.

All drawings © MAYU architects.

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