How the Chinese made a rural library fashionable without electricity

An unusual library is located on the territory of a rocky valley in a village near Beijing. There is no electricity in this "temple of the book", and the walls are lined with wooden twigs, but the capital's hipsters and tourists come here in droves and are ready to queue to get inside.

Source: BBC

Imagine what it's like to plunge into the atmosphere of your favorite book under the creaking of wooden beams, the rustle of the wind and the screeching of birds. The walls of the library are covered with branches of fruit trees, which create a natural and pleasing to the eye entourage. Of course, this is a real refuge for the "bookworm", his own cozy little world.

The library looks extravagant. The structure with a total area of 175 square meters is a kind of "cage" of thick beams. The gaps are glazed, and directly the windows from the street side are covered with branches of fruit trees, walnut and chestnut.This allows you to give naturalness to the lighting, make it softer for the reader's eyes.

In addition, if the architects had simply left the glazed structure, the library room would have looked too cold and empty.Very interesting wall covering.

Thus, the designer drew attention to the library. 

The library is located in Jiaojehe Village, which is located near Beijing. The room is intentionally removed from civilization. The creators of the unusual library believe that the abundance of sounds and the bustle of the metropolis do not allow you to fully enjoy reading your favorite book.

The most interesting thing is that such an arrangement does not frighten book lovers. The capital's fashionistas and numerous tourists flock here every weekend, preferring a trip to the countryside to gatherings with friends or other urban entertainment.

The library is located on the edge of the village surrounded by spectacular landscapes, so you can not only read here, but also admire the pristine nature around.

The library receives hundreds of visitors on weekends. Someone comes here for the sake of a rich collection of books, and their collection is replenished by donations and charity, and someone is attracted by the interesting design of the book depository.

In any case, the doors of the haven for "bookworms" are open to everyone. However, only 40 readers can be in the room at the same time, which is due to the policy of the administration and the small dimensions of the room.

This means that a lot of readers are waiting for their turn. Amazing, isn't it? In conditions of full access to any book on the Internet, a modern resident of a megalopolis prefers to wait in line to read its paper version.

It is noteworthy that the unusual library is open exclusively on weekends. And there is no electricity or heating. It is quite cold in it when autumn and early winter come. Of the amenities, there are only a few seat cushions. Readers sit right on the shelves and countertops, the room is organized inside in the likeness of several stairs, the steps of which serve as a reading room.

Despite all these restrictions, the wooden library in the vicinity of Beijing is very popular with young people. The administration notes that it achieved just such a result.

It's a little sad that attention to books should be attracted in such an extraordinary way. And are you ready to sacrifice precious weekends and go to a place like this for the sake of books?