Library Of Chongqing Electric Power College / Gu Zhihong Studio, AATU

Architects: Gu Zhihong Studio, AATU
Area: 24300 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Gang Wei
Principle Architect: Gu Zhihong
General Superintendent: Shen Qian
Lead Cd Architects: Zhang Bo, Yin Liang
Schematic Design Team: Gu Zhihong Studio, AATU
Construction Documents Design Team: 3rd Division, AATU
Client: Chongqing Electric Power College
City: Tong Nan
Country: China

Library of Chongqing Electric Power College, designed by Gu Zhihong Studio, AATU, serves as the spatial core of a high-density, valley-type mountainous campus in Tongnan District, Chongqing. Integrated into an undulating landscape with a nearly 100-meter elevation difference, the circular library facilitates natural ventilation through a three-dimensional wind corridor, enhancing airflow and reducing energy consumption. The permeable architectural form minimizes environmental impact, creating shaded outdoor spaces for reading and social interaction. Beyond its ecological function, the library embodies an “Energy Ring” concept, symbolizing the electric power discipline. Its facade features lightning-inspired sunshade rods, while an infinite-loop wooden staircase in the atrium reinforces the cyclical nature of energy exchange. The design promotes scientific curiosity and environmental responsibility, establishing a dynamic relationship between architecture, landscape, and subject-specific identity.

Library of chongqing electric power college / gu zhihong studio, aatu

The new campus of Chongqing Electric Power College is situated within a continuous mountainous landscape in Tongnan District, Chongqing. The terrain is highly undulating, with elevation differences reaching nearly 100 meters. Spanning approximately 370,000 square meters, the campus is designed as a high-density, valley-type educational environment. Following an in-depth analysis of the landscape and academic development needs, the architect introduced a ribbon-shaped, light-interference building system that integrates seamlessly with the mountainous terrain. This approach aims to create a compact, ecologically adaptive, and intelligent high-density campus. At the heart of this architectural composition, the library serves as the spatial core of the interconnected building complex.

The library occupies approximately 16,000 square meters. The architect seeks to achieve a comprehensive balance among various design factors, including the campus’s ecological and cultural environment, energy conservation, emission reduction, and spatial composition. The design deeply integrates distinctive cultural elements and characteristics of the electric power discipline from multiple levels and perspectives, aiming to explore a multidimensional, symbiotic, and personalized creative approach that can fundamentally shape the campus design.

The library incorporates green and low-carbon design principles, reflected in its “ecological ring” concept. Situated at the valley’s center, where airflow is obstructed by surrounding mountains, the architect opted for a circular structure with a partially raised ground floor, creating a three-dimensional wind corridor that connects to the external environment. By leveraging the hot pressure difference between upper and lower areas, cool air, tempered by catchment landscape water, is drawn into the building, enhancing natural ventilation, reducing energy consumption, and improving indoor comfort. The permeable architectural form minimally disrupts the organic growth of the mountainous terrain, fostering a multidimensional dialogue with the landscape. The sheltered corridor facing the water body provides a comfortable outdoor space protected from rain and sun, serving as an inviting area for students to read, study, and engage in social interactions.

The library’s “energy ring” concept reflects the institution’s focus on electric power studies, integrating both ecological and cultural symbolism. Beyond its circular form’s ecological benefits, the design embodies electricity’s significance within the academic discipline. The facade abstractly represents lightning through varying sunshade rod thicknesses, referencing Benjamin Franklin’s discovery of electricity to visually convey the scientific and cultural essence of the electric power campus. Inside, the architectural language continues this theme, with the central atrium featuring a suspended “energy ring” wooden staircase that symbolically connects the sky and earth. This structure forms an infinite-loop “power structure” within the circular shared space, representing the continuous exchange of energy between humans and nature. The design expresses the cyclical nature of energy flow, scientific curiosity, and the interconnected relationship between natural forces and technological advancements.

The “Energy Ring” library symbolizes the origins of electric power, the traditional Eastern understanding of harnessing nature’s energy, and the dynamic interaction between humans and the natural world. Electricity, discovered through observations of nature, has transformed human life and scientific understanding, driving continuous self-revolution and progress. Rather than a one-sided relationship of consumption, the connection between humans and nature is reciprocal, emphasizing the need for environmental stewardship and reintegration with natural systems. The “Energy Ring” represents both electricity’s role as a vital energy source and the cyclical exchange between humanity and nature. Beyond its functional purpose as the library’s main circulation and gathering space, the arc-shaped sharing hall also serves an educational role, reinforcing the cultural and philosophical themes embedded in the design.

The “Energy Ring” library strengthens the symbiotic relationship between the campus buildings and the surrounding mountains and rivers. The campus’s cultural identity engages with the natural landscape, effectively conveying the essence of the electric power discipline while highlighting a positive and harmonious interaction between humans and nature. Through this dynamic and ecologically responsive library, the architects have pursued an innovative approach to educational architecture, integrating subject-specific themes and philosophical concepts. This design strategy challenges conventional school architecture, paving the way for a more distinctive and engaging campus environment.