MAD's spaceship-like library lands on Chinese coast

Cloudscape of Haikou is situated on the coastline in Hainan Province, facing the South China Sea. Archexist View 11 Images

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By Adam Williams

2021 Apr 23
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MAD Architects wowed us with its initial concept for the Wormhole Library and happily the finished design looks just as out-of-this-world as the renders suggested it would. The project, now officially renamed the Cloudscape of Haikou, is complete and has opened to visitors in China.

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The curvy library is situated on the coastline in Haikou, Hainan Province, on the north side of the island, in the South China Sea, east of Vietnam. The project is part of a wider development push that’s being spearheaded by the Chinese government and will include another 15 buildings to help boost tourism in the area.

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It measures 1,380 sq m (roughly 15,000 sq ft) and is defined by an eye-catching flowing concrete form with a hole-dotted facade that was created with the help of a CNC router and a 3D printer. The holes in the facade are strategically placed to allow light to permeate within.

Inside, all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing is hidden away to accentuate the minimalist decor and the smooth concrete surface is contrasted with wood and glazing. A good chunk of the interior floorspace is taken up by the main reading area, which has a relatively modest capacity of 10,000 books, plus there’s a multi-functional audio-visual area and a children’s reading area with little nooks and fun areas to explore nearby. A café, public restrooms, a public rest area, and a roof garden lie elsewhere.

Cloudscape of Haikou offers choice views of the sea and coastline — –

“The structural form creates several semi-outdoor spaces and platforms, which also serve as excellent spaces for people to read and gaze at the sea,” says the firm. “In response to the local hot climate, the gray space of the building’s outer corridor is cantilevered to achieve comfortable temperatures, culminating in a sustainable, energy-saving structure.

Cloudscape of Haikou's landscaping includes a decorative reflective pond

Cloudscape of Haikou's interior is naturally illuminated by strategically placed holes in the facade and ceiling

“The building, quietly located between land and sea, is highly sculptural. The pavilion’s free and organic forms also allow for the creation of unique interior spaces, where walls, floors and ceilings merge in unpredictable ways, and the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors are blurred.”

Cloudscape of Haikou is part of a wider development push in Haikou, Hainan Province, by the Chinese government

In addition to the Cloudscape of Haikou, work recently began on MAD’s Train Station in the Forest, while its stunning Yabuli Entrepreneurs‘ Congress Center recently opened for business.

Source: MAD

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