Li xiaodong atelier: liyuan library

'liyuan library' by li xiaodong atelier, huairou, china
all images courtesy li xiaodong atelier

positioned within the small village of huairou, a two hours drive away from the urban center of beijing, china, the 'liyuan library' 
by chinese practice li xiaodong atelier is encompassed within a mountainous and forested landscape. a five minute stroll from
the village's center, the fully glazed interior contains quiet and contemplative reading spaces and a series of platforms 
which integrate shelving for books. after analyzing the region's characteristics, an exterior screen clad with ordinary sticks was 
chosen to conceal the glass facade, receding into the surrounding nature without competing with it. 


stepped interior with integrated shelving for books

the original use for the material is to heat the villager's cooking stoves and was found in collected piles around homes of the area. 
the locally sourced components were placed in rows with slight spacing leading to an evenly diffused light for a brightly illuminated 
reading atmosphere. a cubic grid of structural timber encloses the 175 square meter area, becoming a uniform framework for stairs, 
windows and stepped seating for impromptu chairs.


quiet and contemplative reading nook with views to the mountains


approach from the village


mountains and nature encompass the library


entry elevation recedes into the surrounding nature


void frames views of the landscape beyond


stairway


rows of sticks conceal the glazed interior


facade detail


piles of wooden sticks for facade


bundled sticks used to heat villagers stoves were collected as the raw facade material


site plan


floor plan / level 0


floor plan / level 1


roof plan


elevation


elevation


elevation


elevation


section


section


section


section


section


parapet detail


door details


window details

project info:

architect: li xiaodong / atelier
team: li xiaodong; li yayun, huang chenwen; pan xi
location: jiaojiehe village, huairou county, beijing, china
floor area: 175 m2
client: jiaojiehe village
construction period: march 2011-october 2011
construction cost: RMB 1050,000
commissioning donors: luke him sau charitable trust and pan xi