The Transformed Repository Frumhlutverk: Bókasafn by Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award í bronsi in Innanhúss- og sýningarhönnun Competition Category.
BronsInnanhúss· 2025
The Transformed Repository Frumhlutverk: Bókasafn
by Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao
Client: Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao
A' Design Award í bronsi Winner in Innanhúss Category
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About The Transformed Repository Frumhlutverk: Bókasafn
Bókatexti: The Transformed Repository endurhugsar sögulegt vöruhús í Detroit og breytir því í nútímalegt bókasafn og kaffihús. Hönnunin varðveitir iðnaðareinkenni byggingarinnar en kynnir jafnframt nýtt burðarrými til að skapa lagskipt rými fyrir lestur og samveru. Þakgluggar og háir efri gluggar hleypa náttúrulegu ljósi inn í rýmið og auka hlýju þess og opnun. Þetta aðlögunar-endurnýtingarverkefni er fyrirmynd fyrir sjálfbæra endurlífgun borga, þar sem söguleg varðveisla og samtímavirkni renna saman og skapa lifandi samfélagsmiðstöð.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award í bronsi
The Transformed Repository Frumhlutverk: Bókasafn vann A' Design Award í bronsi, mjög virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er framúrskarandi hönnunarverkum sem einkennast af sköpunargáfu, hugvitssemi og skarpskyggni. Sigurvegarar í bronsi eru ríkulega leiknir og áberandi skapandi gripir sem staðfesta víðtæka reynslu, ímyndunarafl og útsjónarsemi hönnuða sinna. Þess er vænst að The Transformed Repository Frumhlutverk: Bókasafn sé mjög metinn, dáður og elskaður hlutur sem er einstaklega fagmannlegur og nýstárlegur. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í bronsi felur í sér bestu starfsvenjur í list, vísindum, hönnun og tækni og er framúrskarandi fyrir athygli sína á smáatriðum. The Transformed Repository Frumhlutverk: Bókasafn fullnægir þörfum á dásamlegan hátt, snertir langanir, heillar tilfinningar og vekur forvitni.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The Transformed Repository is a project located in Detroit, set in a former warehouse with over a hundred years of history. By converting this old industrial space into a library with a coffee shop, the project aims to create more than just a public space; it is a thoughtful reflection on history and the future of Rust Belt factories.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Transformed Repository spans approximately 18 meters in width, 35 meters in depth, and 7 meters in total height. The design incorporates mezzanine floors at a height of 3.5 meters, creating a dynamic double-height space. Skylights, each measuring 1.5 meters by 2.5 meters, and high clerestory windows of 2 meters in height are strategically placed to maximize natural light. Structural reinforcements include steel beams with a depth of 0.4 meters, ensuring stability and supporting the new design elements.
- Tags
- Factory Renovation
- Production Technology
- Our design employs adaptive reuse principles, introducing new volumes within the existing warehouse to create a dynamic double-height space. We utilized parametric design tools to optimize natural light through skylights and high clerestory windows, enhancing spatial quality while preserving historic integrity. Material selection focused on sustainable, locally-sourced options like reclaimed wood and steel, maintaining the industrial aesthetic while modernizing the interior environment.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part of this design activity was balancing historical preservation with modern functionality. Creatively, we faced the challenge of maintaining the warehouse's original character while adapting it for new uses, like a library and café. Internally, we navigated historical perspectives to honor the building's legacy and community expectations. Externally, we dealt with zoning laws, structural limitations, and integrating modern technology within a century-old structure, ensuring safety and sustainability.
- Research
- This project used a combination of historical research and community-focused design research. The objective was to transform a historic warehouse into a modern library while preserving its cultural significance. We used surveys, interviews, and site analysis as our primary data collection tools. Participants included local residents, historians, and urban planners. Results showed a strong community desire for a multifunctional space that respects the past while serving current needs. The insights gained emphasized the importance of adaptive reuse in promoting sustainable urban development and enhancing social engagement. This research has real-life impacts by revitalizing heritage buildings, fostering community pride, and offering a model for future sustainable design practices.
- Inspiration
- Detroit has a significant number of abandoned factories, many of which were once part of its thriving automotive industry. By repurposing this historic warehouse, the project honors the past while providing a sustainable model for urban renewal, showcasing a vision for the future where old industrial spaces are reborn as vibrant community assets.
- Project Duration
- Detroit, USA
- Operation Flow
- The Transformed Repository is designed to create an inviting and interactive space. A newly introduced drywall volume with an embedded structure adds layers and depth to the library, enhancing the sense of openness. This volume, along with reading and sitting steps, encourages exploration and interaction, offering cozy spots for reading or gathering. Large windows and skylights fill the space with natural light, making it bright and welcoming, blending historical character with modern comfort for an engaging experience.
- Team Members
- Zhaoxiong Han
Yinzhu Yao - Image Credits
- Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao
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