2025 | Student

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

Leaned Out Of Head

Entrant Company

Harvard University

Category

Architectural Design - Libraries

Client's Name

Self-Initiated

Country / Region

United States

In the center of a bustling city, this project transforms a high-density urban site into a cultural and ecological sanctuary. Conceived as both an open gateway to downtown and a peaceful retreat for residents, the design embraces the tension between vibrancy and stillness. Public events flow seamlessly into the site, while quiet reading gardens and exhibition spaces offer moments of escape. The interplay of dynamic and static spaces becomes the defining character of the project.

Addressing the area’s scarcity of greenery and activity spaces, the building creates a layered experience inspired by “stacked books” and “visiting the city.” Its architecture encloses tranquil courtyards while opening lively plazas for performances, markets, and community gatherings. By day, it invites calm exploration; by night, it transforms into a vibrant stage for social life—offering residents an ever-changing rhythm that enriches urban living through culture, knowledge, and shared experiences.

Credits

Harvard University
Jiahui Qiu
University of Pennsylvania
Shuyan Zhang
Harvard University
Xile Zhang
Columbia University
Yishu Yu
University of Pennsylvania
SinChuen Cheng
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