The architect stresses that now China's population is approaching 1.4 billion, that the country needs to "really reconsider the way we construct and we think about our society."

Xiaodong won the award in the culture category with his design for the Liyuan Library clad in firewood in a small village outside Beijing and he describes how technology was an important aspect of the project. Although the building looks "untechnologically expressive," it features an integrated cooling system that draws cold air from the surface of a lake in summer and pulls it up through the building.

The frame of the library is made from chunky timber beams, while the cladding is wooden sticks. "I tried to go back to nature, said Xiaodong. "Around 99 percent of the materials can be recycled and this is part of the concept we need to promote."

Read more about the Liyuan Library in our earlier story.

We’ve filmed a series of interviews with award winners at the World Architecture Festival. See all the movies we've published so far, including our interview with architect Chris Wilkinson about the World Building of the Year.

See all our stories about WAF 2012 »

The post "If China doesn't go green it's the end of
the world" - Li Xiaodong on Liyuan Library appeared first on Dezeen.

Architect Li Xiaodong has completed a library in China that's covered in firewood.

Located on the outskirts of Beijing, the single-storey Liyuan Library houses its collection of books within a chunky timber frame.

Stepped platforms integrate low level shelves and provide seating areas for readers.

The sticks cover a glazed shell that encases the library.

We've also featured a library in Japan with an exterior of timber bookshelves covered by glass and another in Germany with a golden facade - see more stories about libraries here.

Photography is by Li Xiaodong

Here's some more text from Li Xiaodong:

Liyuan Library

This project is modest addition to the small village of Huairou on the outskirts of Beijing, just under a two hours drive from busy Beijing urban life.

On the one hand it forms a modern programmatic complement to the village by adding a small library and reading space within a setting of quiet contemplation. On the other hand we wanted to use architecture to enhance the appreciation of the natural landscaping qualities.

So instead of adding a new building inside the village center, we chose this particular site in the nearby mountains, a pleasant five minute walk from the village center. In doing so we could provide a setting of clear thoughts when one consciously takes the effort to head for the reading room.

Because of the overwhelming beauty of the surrounding nature our intervention is modest in its outward expression. We can’t compete with nature’s splendor. The building blends into the landscape through the delicate choice of materials and the careful placement of the building volume. Especially the choice of material is crucial in blending with the regional characteristics. After analyzing the local material characteristics in the village we found large amounts of locally sourced wooden sticks piled around each house. The villagers gather these sticks all year round to fuel their cooking stoves. Thus we decided to use this ordinary material in an extraordinary way, cladding the building in familiar textures in a way that is strikingly sensitive.

The inside of the building has a very expressive character though; its interior is spatially diverse by using steps and small level changes to create distinct places. It frames views towards the surrounding landscape and acts as an embracing shelter. The building is fully glazed to allow for a fully daylight space. The wooden sticks temper the bright light and spread it evenly throughout the space to provide for a perfect reading ambience.

Architect: Li Xiaodong/Atelier
Team: Li Xiaodong; Liu Yayun; Huang Chenwen; Pan Xi
Location: Jiaojiehe village, Huairou county, Beijing, China
Floor area: 175 sqm
Client: Jiaojiehe village
Construction period: Mar 2011 - Oct 2011

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Architect Li Xiaodong has completed a school in Fujian, China, which forms a bridge over a creek between two castles.

Called Bridge School at Pinghe, the steel structure is supported on concrete platforms and covered in thin wooden slats.

It contains two classrooms that can also be used as a theatre by villagers.

A narrow walkway is suspended underneath the school structure as a second means of crossing the creek.

Here's some more information from Li Xiaodong:

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Bridge School (Fujian, China)

The Bridge, the School, the Playground, the Stage

Located at a remote village, Fujian Province in China, the project does not only provides a physical function - a school and a bridge - but also presents a spiritual centre.

The main concept of the design is to enliven an old community (the village) and to sustain a traditional culture (the castles and lifestyle) through a contemporary language which does not compete with the traditional, but presents and communicates with the traditional with respect.

It is done by combining few different functions into one space – a bridge which connects two old castles cross the creek, a school which also symbolically connects past, current with future, a playground (for the kids) and the stage (for the villagers).

Project info:

Name of the Project: Bridge School at Pinghe, Fujian Province, China

Architect: Li Xiaodong/atelier

Build Aera: 240m2
Building material: Steel, Wood, Concrete.
Cost: RMB650,000

Construction Period: 2008-09
Photographer：Li Xiaodong

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