The Book Stack: A Testament to Modern Campus Architecture

Ling Chen's Award-Winning Design Merges Functionality and Aesthetics

Ling Chen drew inspiration from the character of Hangzhou city itself. The Book Stack is not just a structure, but a reflection of the city's functional interconnection, outdoor activities, ventilation, and sunshade. It stands as the campus's commanding height, offering a viewing platform that overlooks the campus, old streets, and nature.

The Book Stack's unique properties lie in its strict modular system. This system controls the plane, elevation, and construction details of the complex, ensuring high-quality construction at a reasonable cost. It also reduces the burden on future operations and maintenance. The modular system is highly adaptive, making targeted adjustments to meet the different requirements of the seven main functions.

The realization of The Book Stack involved dividing a huge site into several smaller-scaled blocks, open between each other and connected to the surrounding colleges. Each block is based on one main function, allowing for independent management while also providing convenient and flexible use. The ground buildings are arranged outside the blocks, enclosing the Main Square in the middle. The materials used include glass and stone, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal of the design.

The Book Stack covers a site area of 61,468 square meters with a building area of 162,488 square meters. The design process spanned from 2010 to 2011, with completion in 2016. The design team, including Wu Gang, Chen Ling, Qu Keming, Sui Lubo, Qin Li, Lu Fang, and Zhou Liangcai, faced the challenge of presenting a soft and changeable image to teachers and students under the standardization of the modular system.

The Book Stack is more than just a building; it's a symbol of the century-old Hangzhou Normal University's rebirth in the new century. It serves as an open stage for teachers and students to perform infinite innovations. The design was awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2018, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.