Cultural Reconstruction of a Traditional Chinese Courtyard House into the Suochengli Neighbourhood Library
Suochengli Neighbourhood Library is located in a traditional Chinese
siheyuan/courtyard house in the back garden of the historic Zhang Ancestral Hall
in the port of Yantai in the Shandong Province of China. Over the years, owners
and occupiers of the courtyard added new buildings and, although the original
complex had been compromised, the additional structures were all precious evidence
of the development of the complex over time. The relationship between the
old and the new became the focus of a renovation project to bring the courtyard
back into use suitable for a modern lifestyle while respecting its heritage. The
site comprises three bungalows and a cloister which reframed the courtyard into
several smaller connected sections. The various structures had the capacity to
accommodate all the functions required of a modern library, including an inviting
entrance, reading area, café, gallery and toilet. The library reading room and
courtyard are connected by a sliding door which increases the flexibility of the
main floor space and enables a range of activities to take place.
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