The new reference library at Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum transforms the former top-floor café into a space dedicated to research.

1 Lobby｜2 Restrooms｜3 Library｜4 Atrium｜5 Reading space｜6 Kitchen｜7 Archives｜8 Mechanical room｜9 Terrace

The design flips the Boulléan concept of the traditional library-gallery model, where bookshelves typically line the perimeter of a space meant for circulation. Here, the books take center stage. A large galvanized steel library wraps around the central atrium designed by David Chipperfield.

Reading tables are positioned along the perimeter, creating a quiet, intimate zone conducive to concentration and study. Each window serves as a reading nook or a dedicated display area for featured publications presented in vitrines.

The periodicals reading area opens onto a terrace, seamlessly extending the library experience outdoors. From here, visitors can take in views across the Huangpu River toward Pudong, creating a quiet moment of pause within the vibrant city fabric.