Djao-Rakitine

Pudong LibraryShanghai, ChinaDescription: Landscape garden for the new Pudong libraryLocation: Shanghai, ChinaStages: Competition, runner-upPeriod: 2016Area: 3,9 haClient: Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s GovernmentArchitect: David Chipperfield ArchitectsDR Team: Irene Djao-Rakitine, Mariel Drego, Chun Wing FokThe site is located in the sub-district of Huamu, at the end of Century avenue, along Century Park.The conceptual approach for the Library is to capture the garden to create an open, permeable social space at ground level that connects the building to nature and to the surrounding cityscape, and to stack the reading and research spaces above, into a single volume that establishes a physical presence within the city.The landscape garden creates an appropriate landscape setting for the library and its users. It comprises different typologies of landscapes that respond to the different edge conditions of the site. In its totality, the garden becomes part of the experience of the library, prompting a peaceful state of mind in the visitors before they enter the building.The existing woodland on site is framed by a perimeter wall which defines the realm of the library. Entrance gates on each side of the site allow urban routes to form through the garden and the permeable ground floor of the library to the wider area. In many cases, the gates are pavilions in themselves, providing framed views to the surrounding streets of the landscape within. Each gate has a unique design that responds to its specific context.The garden is a reference to the Chinese scholar gardens and includes one large pond, rock works, trees and flowers and an assortment of structures connected by paths and sheltered walkways. The structures serve as observation points and by moving between them, visitors experience a series of carefully composed ‘scenes’ and moments within the gardens.Various types of walls and screens (brick, white concrete and wood) bring the different landscape typologies together and divide the space. As in a traditional Chinese garden, the walls also provide a pure backdrop to reveal the beauty of each planting.
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