The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere

The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Interior Photography, BeamThe Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Exterior Photography, Windows, FacadeThe Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Interior Photography, Closet, BeamThe Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Image 5 of 37The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - More Images+ 32

  • Project Team: Crystal Kwan, Ashley Hinchcliffe, Connie Cheng, Johnny Cullinan, Jacky Huang
  • Funding: Supported by the Knowledge Exchange Impact Award, HKU
  • Unit Cost: 1600 rmb/sqm
  • Country: China
More SpecsLess Specs
The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Image 5 of 37
Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin

Text description provided by the architects. THE PINCH is a library and community center in Shuanghe Village, Yunnan Province, China. The project is part of a government led reconstruction effort after an earthquake in Sept 2012. The majority of village houses were destroyed, leaving the residents living in tents for up to one year. After the earthquake the government has sponsored new concrete and brick houses and a large central plaza. During the first site visit, the houses remained incomplete and the plaza was a large empty site.

The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Exterior Photography
Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin

The University of Hong Kong decided to sponsor the design and implementation of a new library building. Located in the new but empty public plaza, it would serve to activate the community and provide a physical memorial for the event. The site of the library is against a 4 meter high retaining wall. The design spans across this level difference and acts as a bridge between the rebuilt village and the new memorial plaza. Emphasizing its location in a remote mountain valley, the design responds visually to the space of the valley, offering stunning views across a dramatic double curved roof. The structure itself rises to a peak, a monument to the earthquake and rebuilding effort.

The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Interior Photography, Closet, Shelving
Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin

 As a Knowledge Exchange Project, the construction involves collaboration with a local timber manufacturing factory. The process resulted in the development of a surprisingly diverse form through simple means. A series of trusses is anchored between the upper road level and lower plaza level. The form of each truss changes to create both a gradual incline (to bring people down) and then a sharp upward pitch (to elevate the roof). The trusses were covered in an aluminium waterproofing layer and timber decking. On the interior, the trusses extend downward to support a floating bookshelf. Simple traditional school benches are used as chairs. The polycarbonate doors can open to create a completely open space extending out to the plaza

The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Interior Photography, Closet, Shelving, Windows, Beam
Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin
The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Image 33 of 37
Axonometric
The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Interior Photography, Beam
Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin

 Rather than submitting to the abandonment of wood construction (as with the houses after the earthquake), the project reasserts the ability to build contemporary timber structures in remote areas of China.

The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere - Exterior Photography, Wood, Handrail, Deck
Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin

 Note: This project was originally published in 25 April, 2014

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Yunnan, China

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "The Pinch Library And Community Center / John Lin + Olivier Ottevaere" 25 Aug 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/499654/the-pinch-library-and-community-center-olivier-ottevaere-john-lin> ISSN 0719-8884

Courtesy of Olivier Ottevaere + John Lin

云南 The Pinch 图书馆与社区中心 / Olivier Ottevaere + 林君翰

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.