Tianjin's Otherworldly New Library Houses Over 1 Million Books

Libraries have always been magical places. But the Tianjin Binhai Library is absolutely remarkable. The massive, futuristic-looking library opened its doors on October 1 and has already become an internet sensation. The building spans five stories, measures 33,700 square meters and houses 1.2 million books.

Designed by Dutch firm MVRDV and the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute, the new library features a spherical auditorium that is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookcases. 

MVDRV explained that the library is part of a, "larger plan to provide a cultural district for the city." 

“We opened the building by creating a beautiful public space inside; a new urban living room is its center. The bookshelves are great spaces to sit and at the same time allow for access to the upper floors. The angles and curves are meant to stimulate different uses of the space, such as reading, walking, meeting and discussing. Together they form the ‘eye’ of the building: to see and be seen,” said Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV.

Although more akin to something taken from the pages of a Philip K. Dick novel, this otherworldly building is very much real and is now open.

[Images via Netease and Lonely Planet]

See a listing for Tianjin Binhai Library