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When the Western Academy of Beijing, a client we've been working with for a long time, approached us for the renovation of the library, we were incredibly excited about the project. Designing a children's library has been a dream of ours for a long time. We knew the client very well, so we are familiar with their teaching method, multi-cultural background and expectations. We wanted the space to be whimsical and inspiring- thats how we came up with the idea that every child that walks into this library should feel as if they are walking into a fairy tale. We did this by designing each element first as a "technical one" such as a custom bookshelf that could host a certain number of book, and then transforming it into something dreamy- like a bamboo forest.
Since this is an interior renovation project and part of a big existing campus, we kept elements from the existing space, the most significant being the vibrant colours, dear to our client. The connection to the chinese heritage is exremely important for them, we then connected to chinese traditional elements in a fun and subtle way, without transforming the space into a theme park. Roofs from chinese temples are painted in different colours but then integrated to reading huts, and tibetan towers are transformed with modern materials and pastel colours.
Since the library is mostly made from new elements and materials, the sustainability aspect here focused on choosing the best, long lasting and environmentally friendly products. All materials are VOC free and the felt on the walls is made by recycled plastics.
The high quality and durability was also key: the acoustic components hide rockwool for better sound absorption, and all the lighting is controlled to only work when the library is in use to avoid energy waste.
The aircon and air controlling system were upgraded to reduce the energy consumption.
The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), a premier international school in China, reached out to Studio Vapore to renovate their library, a central facility housing a diverse collection of children's books in multiple languages. After 20 years, the library required an update to align with WAB’s philosophy that every space is a learning space. The redesign needed to accommodate various activities simultaneously and echo the colorful, vibrant campus while connecting with local Chinese architectural heritage.
Inspired by children's tales, the redesign aimed to transform the library into a fairy tale world, crafting a narrative learning landscape. The space was reorganized by collections, each hosted on themed platforms with custom bookshelves to create a narrative journey. Features include a bamboo forest where children can "get lost" exploring world languages, a Tibetan tower leading to a storytelling platform, and a village platform for classroom teaching and social interactions. Hidden nooks offer quiet reading spaces. Surprise elements such as the periscopes, sound tunnel and hidden crystals to create rainbow are added to inspire the children creativity.
All design elements subtly reflect Chinese natural and architectural themes. Circular, modular bookshelves form small group study areas, and the color scheme—inspired by the muted tones of traditional Chinese temples—blends with the campus’s dynamic hues to foster a contemplative, inspiring atmosphere.
"I am most excited that the library includes more inviting reading corners, cozy seating areas, and flexible spacing to encourage a love for reading " said Beth Rohrbeck, librarian. "The new library not only supports a range of varied learning styles, it is also built with many exploratory features, such as a Tibetan tower and a Forbidden City-inspired hut. These elements help engage students and inspire them to spend more time in the library and find the joys of being lost inside a book."
Spanning a diversity of disciplines from architecture and interiors to product and graphic design, studio vapore is a team of creative and curious storytellers with a multi-cultural background and a solid technical experience based in Beijing, China.
We approach every new project with curiosity and enthusiasm, an active dialogue with our clients and commitment to the integrity of the end result.
The studio is named after the italian word for vapor, following the roots of its founder, which is a word multifaceted in its symbolism: depending on the context, it can signify creation, progress, mystery, or transformation.
