Constructed in 1983, the original Pingtung Public Library is a typical public building from the era before Taiwan, China’s democratization. A major flaw in its initial design was the main entrance’s lack of direct connection to the city’s main road, causing the building to remain almost completely hidden from public view.
To address this, the renovation introduced a new, transparent porch on the west facade of the existing building. At the urban scale, this shifts the building’s orientation by 90 degrees, opening it up to the city and reconnecting it with the daily lives of residents. Architecturally, the porch acts as a large window bridging the interior and exterior, showcasing library activities to the public while inviting views of the surrounding landscape, thereby enlivening the indoor environment.
The porch features an open-plan parallelogram design, supported by a continuous V-shaped steel structure. Within this space is an “activity island” composed of multiple triangular elements, including a sunken seating area, a suspended mezzanine, and two large hanging lanterns.
This new porch presents a contemporary interpretation of the indigenous “stone houses” of Pingtung, thoughtfully incorporating form, materials, colors, and cultural significance.
Inside the existing library, the commemorative concrete staircase and dense bookshelves that once occupied the building’s center were removed to create a double-layered space designed for both elderly patrons and children. The renovation introduced natural materials, modern furnishings, and glass partitions to foster a sense of openness, transparency, and warmth between visitors and the library.
The youth reading area now occupies the central zone of the building, serving as a dynamic space that connects multiple floors through creative stairs, seating, and bridges.
Project Drawings
△ Original texture map
△ Texture map after renovation
△ Location diagram
△ Original first floor plan
△ First floor plan
△ Original second floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Original third floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Original fourth floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Original fifth floor plan
△ Fifth floor plan
△ Original sixth floor plan
△ Sixth floor plan
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
Project Information
Architect: MAYU Architects
Area: 8,597 m²
Project Year: 2020
Photographer: Yu Chen Chao
Lead Architects: Ma Lone Chang, Yu Lin Chen
Concept Design: Ya-yun Wang, Ya-zhi Kuo, Ya-jue Li, Chia-ru Lin, Fei-min Chang, Chia-hua Lee
Design Development: Ya-yun Wang, Che-sheng Wang, Ya-jue Li, Chia-ru Lin, Fei-min Chang, Che-kang Liu, Ting-yi Lo, Pin-min Huang, Min-ru He, Li-chi Yeh
Construction Documentation: Ya-yun Wang, Che-sheng Wang, Min-ru He, Chia-ru Lin, Kuan-Hsien Li, Jui-hsiang Hsiao, Yu-wen Huang, Pai-fu Kuo
Location: Taiwan, China
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