The Zikawei Library by Wutopia Lab in Shanghai

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When big names in architecture and interior design are involved, the results of a project focused on the reuse of an existing structure are destined to become landmarks even in a metropolis rich in architectural attractions like Shanghai. This is precisely the case of the Zikawei Library, the work completed earlier this year by Wutopia Lab, led by architect Yu Ting. The studio, whose creations we have already presented in our pages, is renowned for its innovative and extravagant approach to design and the new Zikawei library certainly reflects their unique style, combining elements of fantasy, imagination and functionality. Originally designed as a bookstore by the David Chipperfield Architects studio, the project was never completed after the construction of the façade and the structure.

Two investors, in fact, backed out on completing the work and in the end the building, covering almost , square meters, was destined to become the public library of the Zikawei district, which gives it its name and Phone Number List from whose history and cultural context it draws inspiration. The neighbourhood is marked by Western influences, in particular thanks to the presence of Catholic missionaries in the area, as we can also see from the photos showing a nearby church. Wutopia Lab embraced this historical narrative and incorporated it into the library's design. The exterior of the library features a translucent façade made of a composite material that respects the original texture desired by David Chipperfield, with a clear reference to the materiality of the historic white bamboo blinds.



This ethereal and porous exterior allows natural light to filter into the building, creating a serene and magical atmosphere. The project adopts the concept of the "Chinese nested box" structure, which derives from the traditional trousseau box of the Han dynasty. As the Wutopia Lab architects explain: "The first layer of the box is the thin façade designed by DCA; the second layer consists of the main programmes of the library such as the café, various reading areas, lecture halls, exhibition halls, etc; the third layer is the donut-shaped aisle; the fourth layer is the atrium that serves as the library's reading hall; and lastly, the heart of the library, the last protected treasure of the box structure.