The site of Beitou Library is on the western end of Beitou hot spring valley with Beitou creek running through the north of the site, the water of the creek is rich in sulfur, which can cause serious erosion to steel, that’s why timber seems to be an obvious choice.
The Beitou Park is rich in nature and history, mainly due to its renowned Hot Springs phenomenon. Hence Beitou Public Library’s design approach respects the importance of the site by achieving harmony with nature and consideration of the local ecological environment.
The strategy is to make the least impact to the natural environment of the park and to adapt an eco-friendly design approach. The form of the design is the result of the natural forces and is strategically positioned on a north-south axis. The lowest and leastl facade surface is turned to the West where it houses the equipment space to avoid heat exposure. The facade on the east bears the most openings and utilize the surrounding trees for shading. The north-side façade connects to the nature by opening itself to the park. Throughout the building is the balcony which windows can be opened freely to allow natural ventilation and shading in order to reduce solar heat radiation. The selection of timber as the building structure not only efficiently withstands the sulfur water from the creek that crosses the whole linear park but also helps create a warm and welcoming atmosphere into the inside reading space. The green roof also does a great job at blending the entire building with the surrounding nature. Last but not least, the materials used for the outdoor pavement were carefully selected in order to allow permeability.