Architects: OPEN Architecture
Area: 5,372 m²
Year: 2020
Photography: Jonathan Leijonhufvud, Qingshan Wu, Hao Chen
Lead Architects: Hu Li, Wenjing Huang
Design Team: Qing Ye, Bingjie Sji, Ling Yang, Qingjun Tan, Di Lu, Daijiro Nakayama, Bihong Lin, Xiuyuan Chen, Tingting Zhou, Xiaowei Zou, Xunfeng Liu, Lingna Li
Interior Design: OPEN Architecture
Local Design Institute: Shanghai Yuangou Architects and Consultants
Structural And Mep Consultants: CABR Technology Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Consultant: CABR Technology Co., Ltd.
Theater Acoustic Consultant: Shanghai Net Culture Development Co., Ltd.
Lighting Consultant: Shanghai Modern Architecture Decoration Environmental Design Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Client: Shanghai Tixue Education and Technology Co., Ltd.
City: Shanghai
Country: China
Pinghe Bibliotheater, a cultural center designed by OPEN Architecture in Shanghai, combines a library, a theater, and a black box into a distinctive structure. Completed in 2020, the building’s unique form and flowing spaces inspire students’ creativity and interest in reading and performing.
Pinghe Bibliotheater is the centerpiece of OPEN Architecture’s project, School as Village/Shanghai Qingpu Pinghe International School. This multifunctional building integrates a library, a theater, and a black box, forming what some describe as a ‘blue whale’ or an ocean liner. Its distinctive form and open spaces foster students’ interest in reading and performing, encouraging their imagination to explore knowledge freely.
Positioned at a prominent corner of the school-village, where a major city highway meets an ancient canal, the Bibliotheater stands out with its slanted roof, round windows, and vibrant blue color. This design leaves a lasting impression on passersby.
Upon receiving the complex program for a new school for 2000 students aged 3 to 18, the architects sought to avoid the typical megastructure approach. They deconstructed the original program into smaller buildings, creating a village-like campus. The combination of library and theater stems from the belief that reading, thinking, and performing are essential to education but are often overlooked in test-focused systems. The distinct needs of these programs inspired the building’s design.
The proscenium theater and the black box, requiring minimal natural light and significant acoustic isolation, occupy the lower and central areas, while the library takes the upper part. Various reading spaces rise and fall according to the theater volumes below, culminating in a central reading area bathed in light and surrounded by books.
The architects designed various comfortable reading zones for different age groups, including a sunken roof garden and an outdoor reading area for good weather.
The theatrical experience is emphasized with a dramatic main entrance and visually stimulating auditorium featuring warm wood panels and deep blue walls. A ground-floor café serves as a space for parents to read and socialize while waiting for their children.
Light plays a crucial role in the library’s design, fulfilling functional needs and animating spaces with a musical rhythm. Skylights filter light into the central reading area, and a giant oculus illuminates the center, creating a spiritually charged space. The theater, in contrast, avoids natural light, relying on carefully designed artificial lighting.
The Bibliotheater serves as a cultural hub for both the school and the surrounding community. Positioned near the secondary campus entrance, it can be used independently without disturbing school operations. The architects envisioned the Bibliotheater as a social catalyst, bringing together parents and community members.
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Project Location
Address: 158 Qingpu District, Shanghai 201701, China.
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
