A Short but Dreamlike Journey to One of the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries in China, with Stunning and Surreal Architecture — It Feels Like You Are Truly Dreaming

According to Saed News’ tourism service, the new public library in China, known as the Tianjin Binhai Library, evokes the idea of a magnificent, futuristic structure that houses 1.2 million books. It looks like something out of a science fiction space novel.

This five-story public library, located in the northeastern city of Tianjin, China, stores 1.2 million volumes. Its advanced design was created by the Dutch architectural firm MVRDV in collaboration with a local design company called TUPDI over a period of three years.

This monumental building covers an area of 362,744 square meters and features a giant spherical auditorium at its center, resembling a massive eye.

With its modern and innovative appearance, the shelves cascade like waterfalls from floor to ceiling, attached to the walls and simultaneously functioning as stairs and seating areas. The wave-like, upward design of the shelves, similar to a staircase, creates a perception of a larger space than it actually is.

Winy Maas, founder of MVRDV, says: “The interior design of the Tianjin Binhai Library is a cave-like space with continuous shelving.”

Reading areas are located on the ground floor, while seating spaces are found on the middle levels. The upper floors contain administrative offices, conference rooms, and computer rooms.

Angles and curves play an important role in expanding spaces for reading, walking, meeting, and discussion. Together, they form the eye-like shape of the library—a place for seeing and being seen.

At the center of the library, there is a massive spherical hall, which the designers hope will become a “living room for the city” for the public.

Since its opening on October 1, 2017, images of this groundbreaking building have spread widely on social media. Some internet users have suggested they may spend more time admiring its extraordinary architecture than actually reading books.

In any case, this astonishing structure is designed to redefine the experience of a library, and with its 1.2 million books, it fulfills the dream of book lovers.