Heyuan Public Library

In the Heyuan Public Library, we took the Hakka “Wufeng Building” as our prototype and distilled its signature traits—thick walls, small window openings, and a prominent roof—then reimagined them through a modern architectural lens.The large main entrance: We translated the Wufeng Building’s axial symmetry and the spatial spirit of the “central hall” into the library’s main entrance plaza and atrium. This creates a ceremonial, yet welcoming sequence—enhanced by the grand staircase in the lobby—that honors the traditional sense of order while meeting the openness expected of a modern public building.Small windows and thick walls: In traditional Hakka architecture, these served defensive and thermal purposes. In our design, we reinterpreted them as 400mm-thick textured white concrete panels. By carefully crafting the proportions and patterns of the facade, we preserved the “heaviness” and inward focus of Hakka dwellings while meeting modern standards for daylighting, energy efficiency, and thermal insulation.

Bamboo is abundant in Hakka regions and symbolizes humility, resilience, and ecological wisdom in local culture. We used it not just as a material, but as a cultural medium—abstracting everyday Hakka bamboo artifacts like woven screens and fences into contemporary architectural sunshading elements.Bamboo is lightweight, renewable, and highly effective at blocking low-angle sunlight from the east and west, significantly improving indoor comfort. The semi-translucent bamboo screens also cast soft, dynamic shadows, enriching the interior light quality while reinforcing the building’s regional identity.

The site clearly embodies the feng shui ideal of “backed by mountains, facing water” (bei shan mian shui)—with solid hills to the north and an open lake to the south. This “high at the back, open in front” configuration represents the classic feng shui ideal of gathering vital energy (qi) and balancing yin and yang.We respected this natural order in our design: the building aligns with the park’s central axis, oriented southward, and steps up the slope in a cascading sequence that echoes the idea of a “dragon vein.” The main entrance faces the lake—symbolizing the welcoming of prosperity and energy—while separate hiking trails on the east and west sides keep casual park visitors from cutting through the library, preserving a quiet, focused interior atmosphere. The stepped massing also minimizes excavation and helps the building feel as if it’s “growing out of the hillside,” reflecting the deeper feng shui philosophy of harmony between humans and nature.