Silver Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2026
Ascending Ground Community Library
by Hao Zhong
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Hao Zhong
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,524
- Verification code DC5AE52680 · Verify this award
About Ascending Ground Community Library
Set within the historic town of Wuzhen, Ascending Ground explores a dialogue between permanence and openness through a contemporary community library. Recycled grey brick volumes anchor the building in local tradition, while terraces, platforms, and carved openings generate fluid movement and framed views. A central light filled void introduces nature and social activity, transforming the library into a layered spatial landscape that connects architecture, daylight, and urban memory.
Situated within the enduring tradition of contextual architectural practice that seeks dialogue between contemporary intervention and historic fabric, this community library by Hao Zhong represents a sophisticated meditation on how new cultural institutions might emerge from and contribute to established settlement patterns without overwhelming their delicate spatial and material character. The architect appears to have approached the challenge of inserting a public reading room and community gathering space within a dense watertown environment through a strategy of fragmentation and dispersal, breaking the programmatic requirements into multiple intimate volumes that echo the scale and massing of surrounding traditional courtyard houses while introducing a unifying system of external circulation rendered in contrasting white-painted steel. This formal decision transforms what might have been a singular institutional presence into a village within a village, a constellation of interconnected spaces linked by a three-dimensional network of staircases, bridges, and viewing platforms that invites exploratory movement and rewards curiosity with unexpected prospect views and moments of repose. The material palette demonstrates careful attention to regional building traditions, with the rough-textured grey stone walls suggesting continuity with vernacular construction methods while their irregular, almost geological massing introduces a sense of organic growth rather than imposed geometric order. The integration of planted terraces throughout the ascending sequence speaks to contemporary biophilic design principles while referencing the traditional relationship between architecture and cultivated nature found throughout the region's garden heritage. Viewers might contemplate how this work proposes a model for cultural institution-making that privileges accessibility, exploration, and community gathering over monumentality and singular authorial expression.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The project reinterprets Wuzhen’s historic architectural language through a contemporary community library that merges cave-like enclosed spaces with open terraces. The façade employs locally sourced recycled bricks, reinforcing regional identity while reducing material impact. A heavy masonry mass contrasts with a light-filled central void, creating layered circulation and a social platform connecting residents and visitors.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The building is organized as a multi-level library composed of a heacy mass cladded with local-sourced recycled bricks and lightweight steel terrace structures. Massing and platform geometry were optimized through sun-path analysis to enhance daylight performance and natural ventilation. Varied façade openings regulate light and views, while staggered terraces create integrated circulation across levels, supporting flexible spatial use and environmental responsiveness.
- Tags
- community library, contextualized design, heritage integration, recycled material
- Production Technology
- The overall massing and platform layout were determined through careful study of the sun path to optimize daylight and capture views of Wuzhen’s historic district. Heavy volumes use locally sourced recycled grey bricks, while lightweight timber and steel define the central void and terraces. Staggered terraces, varied window openings, and intersecting stairs create layered spatial experiences, blending traditional materials with contemporary construction techniques.
- Design Challenge
- Integrating a contemporary library into Wuzhen’s historic fabric required balancing tradition and innovation while addressing social and spatial needs. Constraints included local regulations, material availability, and construction logistics in narrow historic streets.
- Project Duration
- The project concept started in 2018 during my travel in Wuzhen and the design finished in 2019.
- Operation Flow
- The library features a system of staggered stairs, platforms, and vertical circulation within the brick volumes, allowing visitors to move freely between enclosed, cave-like spaces and open terraces. This separation of circulation creates multiple paths, encourages exploration, and frames diverse views of Wuzhen, while the central void and terraces serve as flexible communal spaces that enhance social interaction and experiential engagement.
- Inspiration
- The design is inspired by the rich historical and cultural fabric of Wuzhen, particularly its muted grey brick and white-walled architecture. Motivated to create a contemporary intervention that respects tradition, the project explores spatial contrasts between enclosed cave-like areas and open terraces, fostering community interaction while embracing the town’s scenic context.
- Image Credits
- Hao Zhong
- Patents
- Hao Zhong