The Library, enclosed by Jinyun mountain, Gele mountain, Jin lake and Yun lake, is located on Huxi campus of Chonqing University in Huxi Town, west of Shapingba District. Against the backdrop of rapid development that Huxi campus covers a total area of 3,800 mu(253hectares) and houses about 20,000 students,the university, at the beginning of 2008, carried out the construction scheme of new library which covers 29,783square meters of total land, 5,978 square meters of which for construction. As the site is low and plain with landform of mountain land, total floor space of new library is about 36,000 square meters with 32,861 square meters on the ground and 3,357 square meters underground. To suit the readers’convenience, the new library is built in the campus’ center near teaching building IV, laboratory building II, art building, dormitories, dining hall and residential area for the staff. With natural condition of “near mountain and by waters”, plants surrounded, pavilions and seats equipped, the new library enhances the idea that "man is an integral part of nature".
The design of the library embodies "integrity" of arts on architectural environment. Seeking after the architectural style of postmodernism, the new library is designed like a brick-red chair, a mahogany piano, and also an open reference book. Backing onto Jinyun mountain and facing Jin lake, the library highlights modernization on the basis of traditional "He" and "Qi". Together with laboratory building III, art building, the library forms a building group that produces contrast and coordination with buildings on other campuses. Moreover, the facade of the new library not only indicates the spirit of the age, but also adapts itself with the buildings around. As overall expressive force is enhanced, the library forms an atmosphere of culture, environmental protection and humanistic spirit of architecture.
The new library strikes readers with art language and provides them with strong humanity implications. Idea of “people foremost” is implemented at each space and details of both external environment and internal layout of the building.
The library presents remarkable features based on the principle of “people foremost”.
Feature 1: Lobby with multifunctional design of the space. The lobby, paved with up-market stone, is designed and decorated elaborately. Applying human-friendly and standardized models of service and idea of modernization, informatization and efficiency, the library shows openness and circulation, simplicity and quietness, and taste and tolerance.
Feature 2: 4,000-square-meter reading room for social science and 4,000-square-meter reading room for natural science of large-bay design at the second floor and the third floor respectively. Management model of “reserving, borrowing, reading and consulting” and large-bay design enable readers experience idea of modern supermarkets, strengthens connection between readers and books, and reduce workload of librarians.
Feature 3: The saloon design of the exhibit hall. The exhibit hall displays works of students, staff and alumni of CQU. As view borrowing of each other generates dynamic harmony within the space, it emphasizes interaction between spaces and exhibits. Moreover, the small bar of Chinese style enriches function of the hall.
Feature 4: Terraces of varying sizes. Terraces are designed at study rooms and themed reading rooms for discussion, and readers can enjoy landscape through the window walls at the terraces. They can also take walks to relax at intervals or gather in small groups to discuss.
Feature 5: Modern equipments. Self-check machine, copier and printer are furnished on each floor, and electronic displays are installed at the door of each elevator, which fully embodies the characteristics of modern library to be economic, practical, user-friendly and efficient.
Feature 6: Sophisticated internal trim. Materials and colors of ceilings, floors and walls, styles and arrangement of furniture, signage system, and indoor plants and trees, are made for the "integrity " of environmental art and to create an elegant, comfortable, quiet, pleasant and vital reading environment for readers.
（photographers: Ding Honglin, Zhao Chenxiang, Li Honglin）