In the heart of downtown Redmond, a new kind of library has taken shape—one that reflects the city’s growth, diversity, and future-forward vision. Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership with local firm Steele Associates, in collaboration with Deschutes Public Library (DPL), the two-story, mass timber building more than doubles the size of the previous library and reimagines it as a vibrant, flexible, and inclusive civic space.
Background
Weishan Chongzheng Academy Bookstore of Librairie Avant-Garde is located in the west corner of Weishan Ancient Town in Dali, Yunnan. Weishan is the birthplace of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom, and has a history of over 600 years. It still preserves the urban layout of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Chongzheng Academy was built during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty with a history of more than 500 years, and has gone through several twists and turns. In 2021, TAO was invited by the local government and Librairie Avant-Garde to repair and renovate Chongzheng Academy, transforming it into a bookstore with comprehensive functions including bookstore, exhibition, small theatre, coffee, etc. and hoping to awaken the former prosperity and vitality of the place. The design task also includes the urban design of the surrounding area. By inviting new programs, the design aims to create a new lifestyle destination that encourages everyday public participation throughout the year, bringing a positive effect to the regeneration of the old town.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Flaxman Library renovation project radically proposes an “open book” approach to the spatial experience of the library by connecting two previously siloed floors to create one visually and physically connected space where the collections and the work of the librarians preserving those collections are on view.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Flaxman Library renovation project radically proposes an “open book” approach to the spatial experience of the library by connecting two previously siloed floors to create one visually and physically connected space where the collections and the work of the librarians preserving those collections are on view.
Lei Wa Lakom Library is the second realized project within the Parallel Gives program, led by Architect Mai Al Busairi- Kuwait, demonstrating how modest, socially driven architecture can create enduring cultural and educational impact through climate-responsive and context-aware design.
The Břetislav Kafka Library in Červený Kostelec transforms a historic former inn into a bright, flexible, and welcoming public library. The design works with the building’s original architecture, combining tailored interiors, playful furniture, and a distinctive color palette to create a space that is both functional and inviting.
Nicolas Hugoo Architecture has completed 36 social housing units, LA Architectures a media library and 75 family flats, and the atelier Régis Roudil has completed a student residence hall with 75 flats in the Paul Bourget neighborhood of the 13th arrondissement in Paris. The operation to upgrade the Paul-Bourget neighborhood began in 2014, aiming to break the isolation of the site and ensure the lasting improvement of the cityscape for its inhabitants. Led by Elogie Siempand Semapa and designed by Urban Act, this ambitious urban renewal project achieved the creation of a new generation of flats on this 4-hectare site and restored the presence of greenery and biodiversity.
The House of Knowledge is part of the 20 Bookhouses Initiative, envisioned to enrich community life across the rapidly growing metropolis of Xinyang, a city of 12 million in Henan Province, central China. Located in Yangshan Park, the project consists of two buildings: a community library with an exhibition hall and a tea house. Between them stretch three small lakes, embedded in a biodiverse landscape and surrounded by the urban fabric.
A very small bookstore began by the banks of Nanjing’s Qinhuai River. The owner’s philosophy is to leave the bookstore to its guests as much as possible, providing a warm place for different people at different times. The shop’s staff are four adopted stray cats, and the walls are covered with message postcards. The books in the store initially came from the owner’s old collection, and as guests increased, new and used books were donated one after another.
The “beating heart” of the Multnomah County Library system – because it keeps the entire system running – the new Operations Center is essential for effectively managing more than 500,000 catalogue materials and outreach services. This adaptive reuse project transformed a vacant 1995 grocery store into a bustling 73,000-square-foot workplace in vehicle-dominated east Portland. The Operations Center is the first project to meet Multnomah County’s ambitious fossil fuel-free buildings resolution and anticipates LEED Gold certification as well as Living Future Net-Zero Energy certification. The design prominently features more than 600 solar panels that will fully offset the building’s energy use.
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