The Horizon Library

Nestled away from the bustling metropolis of Hefei, Anhui Province, the Horizon Library stands as an idyllic retreat for readers seeking solace in nature, storytelling, and imagination amongst the prairies of Dawei Village. The architecture embodies the concept of openness through its form, materiality, and ambiance, crafting an authentic respite from the busyness of urban life. Replacing a former farmhouse, the project re-envisions the site as a tranquil reading sanctuary that captures the picturesque countryside, encouraging the visitors’ imagination to wander towards the limitless horizon of the prairies.

To open up the architecture towards the landscape, two architecturally distinct volumes — a grounded, carved monolith and a hovering, transparent prism — stand as calibrated viewing frames to capture the breadth of the land and the expanse of the sky. Below, the monolith houses the lobby café and other support spaces on the ground floor. Visitors then ascend to the prismatic volume above through the supporting core columns that house vertical circulation and service shafts. Minimizing the structure’s footprint on the landscape, this clustered core arrangement liberates the building’s perimeter, dedicating it to the library’s centerpiece: the Reading Room. Projecting 4 meters outward on all sides, the Reading Room’s cantilevered floorplate creates a panoramic veranda that seemingly levitates above the terrain. Within this column-free space, an illuminated bookshelf winds its way around the building core and ascends towards the ceiling, reminiscent of an ancient tree. At its heart, a central aisle connects the perimeter reading alcoves to form a deep gathering space for intimate events. Above, mirror-finished stainless steel panels create an illusion of infinite bookshelves that stretch beyond the ceiling.

More than a repository of books, the Horizon Library stands as a cultural beacon on the Anhui prairies, poised to invigorate the cultural tapestry of the Dawei Village community and beyond. Positioned at the crossroads of tourist footfall and local life, the library is intrinsically a communal nexus, fostering a dialogue between the tranquility of nature and the buzz of communal gathering, while potentially narrowing the educational divide in the village as a local learning hub.