Revolutionizing Libraries: Jinan Cultural Archives Center

A New Era of Shared Knowledge Spaces by Muchuan Xu, Minxi Cai and Xin Yan

The Jinan Cultural Archives Center, designed by Muchuan Xu, Minxi Cai, and Xin Yan, is a unique library that stands out for its innovative approach to space utilization and social interaction. The design team drew inspiration from the theme of sharing and the trend of the era, focusing on optimizing sight relationships in the space, placing strategic space nodes, and adding functional spaces to reorganize social behavior and promote the realization of "shared knowledge".

Located in the Lixia District of Jinan, surrounded by cultural, educational, and creative commercial resources, the library occupies the 2nd to 4th floors on the southwest side of the center. The designers aimed to provide residents of different ages with an emerging library model with a diversified human scale, transforming the library into a shared space.

The realization of this design involved a meticulous process of analyzing and reconstructing the original situation to find pointcuts. The designers clarified the overall optimization direction, analyzed the functions and structure of the traditional library, and reorganized the functions and streamline relationships among them. The result is a library that not only serves as a repository of knowledge but also as a cultural hub that encourages social interaction and community building.

Technical specifications of the design involved the disassembling, reorganizing, and restructuring of the existing building's public space. The designers adjusted the position of the escalator, pushed and pulled the edge of the library atrium without affecting the streamlines, and used glass perspective to reduce the urgency of reading space and enrich people's space experience.

The Jinan Cultural Archives Center is more than just a library; it is a cultural carrier that promotes sharing and communication and connects the future of the city. It is a testament to the transformative power of design and architecture in shaping social behavior and promoting a culture of shared knowledge. This innovative project has been recognized with a Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.

In conclusion, the Jinan Cultural Archives Center is a shining example of how design and architecture can transform traditional spaces into dynamic, interactive hubs that promote a culture of shared knowledge. The project is a testament to the creativity and innovation of designers Muchuan Xu, Minxi Cai, and Xin Yan, who have successfully redefined the concept of a library for the modern era.