MVRDV has won the competition for Wuhan’s new central library, in China. The building, surrounded by a park, aims to be a recognizable landmark and takes its inspiration from the local geography, celebrating the sculptural power of rivers and developing like a “canyon of books”. The design’s concept, in fact, aims to celebrate Wuhan’s position at the convergence of two rivers, the Yangtze River and the Han River.

The flowing volume reflects the many heights of the surrounding buildings and its three panoramic windows offer the possibility to look out over the city from different vantage points of view, as well as showing scenes of life inside the building arousing the curiosity of passers-by. Inside, the stepped beech terraces recall the sculptural lines of a canyon; and outside, the façade incorporates brise soleil reminiscent of the pattern created by the backs of books inserted in the shelves, reflecting the function of the building and shading the interior spaces, thus reducing energy consumption.