Seashore Library: The World's Loneliest Library

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” So said Jorge Luis Borges. On the beach of Qinhuangdao, a city on the northeast coastline of China, there stands the world’s loneliest library. Being the only construction in this open space, it has no driveways or shortcuts connecting to the outside world. You have to walk for a few hundred meters, barefoot in the sand, before finally getting to this “end of the world” scenery.

It’s called the Seashore Library, and the architect of this public service project is Dong Gong. The first time DG came here, he was overwhelmed by the feeling of loneliness. On the background of the vast empty ocean, even a piece of rock appears to be distinctive. Dong Gong expects the library to be as distinctive and firm as a rock on the beach.

Unlike the city center where sunlight is randomly reflected or blocked by skyscrapers, here on the seashore, the architecture present the sunshine in its most primitive and explicit state. Windows and openings are thoughtfully designed for different rooms, with an effort to explore the possibilities in space and lighting. The overall style of the library is raw and direct. Sharp lines and abrupt connections are kept intentionally. “The rawness is the result of constructing, I like this feeling of being true. The superficial delicacy we see in things are usually just a decoration or facade.” says Dong Gong.

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一条视频：也许是中国最好的原创生活视频。