The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca by Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao

The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca by Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Designatio Interior Competition Category.

AesInterior· 2025

The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca

by Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao

Client: Zhaoxiong Han and Yinzhu Yao

Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #163877

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca

Repositorium Transformatum horreum historicum Detroiti denuo excogitat, illud in bibliothecam modernam tabernamque caffearium convertens. Consilium indolem industrialem aedificii conservat, dum novam molem structuralem introducit ad spatia stratificata legendi congregandique creanda. Luminaria tectique et fenestrae altae clerestorii lucem naturalem in spatium inducunt, calorem eius apertionemque augentes. Hoc opus reusus accommodati exemplar praebet redintegrationis urbanae sustinendae, conservationem historicam cum functionalitate contemporanea miscens, atque centrum communitatis vividum creans.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum

The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. The Transformed Repository Bibliotheca necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.

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