Library project in Tainan by Mecanoo

The establishment of the port city of Tainan dates back to the 17th century, marking the beginnings of maritime trade between Asia and Europe. Over the centuries, Taiwan has been under various administrations.
The oldest city on the island currently has 750,000 inhabitants. In the context of the international competition for a new city library, there was a requirement for a "timeless design." The Dutch office Mecanoo, along with the local studio MAYU architects+, came up with the most convincing proposal.
Mecanoo has previously realized several successful libraries (the university library in Delft, the city library in Birmingham) and is currently planning an expansion of the listed Martin Luther King Library in Washington (L.M. van der Rohe, 1972). While the library in Birmingham, England, has a step-like pyramid shape, the winning design for Tainan in Taiwan takes the form of an inverted four-step pyramid. The supporting pillars around the perimeter create a dignified entrance space to the library. The transparent glass cladding offers a glimpse into the activities inside. For shading purposes, blinds are introduced in front of the facade on the top floor, which will display a historical map of Tainan, reminding viewers of the city's long history. In addition to lending books, the building is intended to serve as an important social place with a café and a children's playground. The total area of the library will be 35,000 m² (but future expansion of another 13,000 m² is already planned). Completion is scheduled for 2018.