The Revert Library

Year: 2019
2019 Tiny Library Competition | Honorable Mention
Program: Library
Location: Putian, Fujian, China

Contrary to Tulou’s fortified facade that originally developed as defense system, the inside of its thick mud wall establishes an open courtyard style housing that celebrates the harmonious community of the whole clan. Our proposal seeks to reverse the architectural system of Tulou, while inheriting the environmental friendly local source material of rammed earth in the central skywell, the design reverse the original monolithic appearance of Tulou into perforated aluminum with different degrees of transparency, offer an enigmatic and evanescent perception. The earth tone skywell creates a contemplative space enabling readers to reconnect with knowledge in the sound of nature. Programs such as study carrels carve into the thickness of rammed earth wall, creating meditative spaces for individual learnings.

SITE PLAN

Situated at the remote mountain side of Fujian Province Putian City, the Revert Library position itself at the center of a 5000 people Xia Ban Village. Inspired by the local traditional community housing Tulou’s circular geometry, fortified mud walls and central courtyard, our proposal develope a contemporary concept of a library with the cultural responsibility to inherit local architecture, and the transcendental urban role to address the problems of young population collapse and decline of literacy rates of this isolated community.