Schmidt Hammer Lassen has won a two stage international competition to design the new city library for Shanghai, China. Shanghai is currently the most populous city in the world with nearly 25 million inhabitants, and has a central library system that dates back to 1847. The practice saw off competition from Kengo Kuma, David Chipperfield and Dominque Perrault to the prestigious commission after a 6 month two stage process. The 110,000m2 library, located in Pudong District - the area of the city known for its iconic skyline, will sit immediately next to Century Park — the largest park in the city spread over 140 hectares.

The project is conceived as a singular monolithic object floating above the tree canopy within the park. The main library volume floats above two pavilions that will house a 1200 seat performance venue, exhibition and events space and a dedicated children's library, that will all open up towards a series of landscaped courtyards and gardens.
 
"We see the library as the focal point in a park. A central rock within a city scale Chinese garden", said Chris Hardie, Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen. "One of the most compelling things about this project is its location within a parkland setting. You are in the heart of the world's largest city, yet we have the opportunity to create a sanctuary for knowledge and media in the trees."
 
The project completes a trilogy of cultural projects alongside the Science & Technology Museum and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre — all which surround the centre of the Pudong Government — and sit alongside Century Avenue that links Century Park to the Business District that forms the now globally recognisable skyline of Shanghai.
 
In 1995, Shanghai Library merged with the Shanghai Institute of Scientific and Technological Information resulting in an advanced and comprehensive public library, the first in China that combines public library services with Scientific and Technological research functions.
 
"A modern library is not only a place for the storage and lending of different materials, it is also a place to stay, a place for social interaction and a place to be inspired and surprised", said Morten Schmidt, Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen. "The answer to these changes and challenges are what we refer to as a shift from "collection to connection. Libraries are not only passive collections, but vibrant institutions connecting users with knowledge, experiences, innovation and not least their fellow citizens", he added.
 
The library itself is organised around a grand central atrium in the form of three staggered reading rooms that open up and connect to various parts of the library and various contextual parts of the city from Century Park to the east, a new library park to the south and the city to the north and west.
 
The library volume is carved and twisted to reflect the surrounding park and sky, and continuously clad in a facade of clear, insulated and fritted glass. The glass panels are arranged in horizontal bands that are angled to minimise solar glare in addition to horizontal louvres — allowing unobstructed panoramic views to the park and city beyond.
 
The project is now progressing through Scheme Design, with Detail Design expected to be completed in the first half of 2017. The Library is expected to be completed and ready to open in 2020.
 
Subnotes
Schmidt Hammer Lassen are one of the world's leading library architects, having first completed the Renovation and expansion of The Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in 1999, the Halifax Central Library in Nova Scotia, and the recently completed Dokk1 in Aarhus, which was announced as the Best Public Library in the World  at the annual IFLA conference 2016  (the International Federation of Library Associations).
 
Other ongoing Library projects by the practice include the New Central Library for Ningbo in East China due for completion in 2017, the renovation and expansion of the Victoria State Library in Melbourne, Australia and the new Central Library in Christchurch, New Zealand.
 
Facts
Architect                                           
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
 
Client                                                                         
Shanghai Library
 
Area                                                             
110,000m2
 
Competition                                                         
2016, 1st prize, international competition
 
Structural Engineer
Schlaich Bergermann Partner
 
Climate & Environmental Engineer
Transsolar
 
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
Buro Happold
 
Facade Engineer
Drees & Sommer
 
Visuals
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, Beauty & the Bit and Doug & Wolf
 
Local Collaboration Architect
SIADR