Trust China to build something overwhelming. In its latest bid to stun the world with its modernist attitude which of course is a good thing, the Chinese have just built a spectacular library larger than a huge cathedral and it is one of the most imposing buildings in modern China. The Tianjin Binhai Public library named “The Eye of Binhai” is actually shaped like an eye and can hold up to 1.2 million books.
The fantastic futuristic structure has been built by famous Dutch design company MVRDV reputed for building several equally incredible projects in Europe including the Grand Market Hall in Rotterdam and the Balancing Barn in Suffolk. The spherical shaped library is located in Binhai Cultural District in Tianjin has been built over 34,000 square meters and is five stories tall. Take a virtual picture tour of the Eye of Binhai Library and you’ll be truly impressed.
1The library took three years to complete
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Built in collaboration with The Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute (TUPDI), the library can store 1.2 million books and also features reading rooms and residing areas on the ground floor, offices, lounges, meeting rooms, computer room and a host of various facilities to give a reader or researcher a brand new experience. The building is futuristic in nature and that’s exactly the atmosphere inside.
Image Source: www.newatlas.com
2The atrium and bookshelves
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The atrium in the Eye of the Binhai library has been intentionally build to look like a 3D eyeball that stares right out at you from the main glazed `façade of the building. The internal area that is five storey’s high has its walls lined with bookshelves all the way up from the floor to ceiling. The terraced bookshelves have been designed to look like the contours of a topographical landscape. Shelves can be seen winding up all around the oval-shaped atrium.
Image Source: www.mvrdv.nl