Libraries have seen a slew of impressive new architectural achievements in recent years, with architects taking the traditional format of a building with books, and flipping it on it’s head. The latest striking example of that is the Tianjin Binhai Library, designed by the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV. Built in just three years, the massive library has a form that focuses attention on a giant ‘orb’ in the middle, which serves as a luminous, spherical auditorium. The organic form and stepped platforms allows for easy browsing and sitting, while keeping the space open and clean. Located adjacent to a new park and a burgeoning cultural district, the Tianjin Binhai Library is an ambitious design that will serve as an icon in this city of 15 million. Via ArchDaily:
