Kinmen, an island that is closer to Fujian, China than Taiwan, with its special geographical location and rich geological textures, has emerged from its tumultuous history with pride. Today, well preserved villages in the traditional style of southern Fujian, sprinkled with western mansions built by wealthy emigrants, and cold war battlefield relics coexist harmoniously, accumulating in distinctive architectural and cultural layers.
JJP’s competition winning scheme for the Kinmen Public Library & Art Museum tells the story of the site and Kinmen as a whole, while responding to its sensitive geological context. The new building will encompass 13,200 m2, and anchor a proposed arts and cultural special district that is transformed a former military site.
Perched on the edge of a valley, the design starts with a close reading of the landscape to arrive at the hill-like volumes emerges in conformity with the typography. Four distinct volumes correspond to the major program elements and allow for phased construction. The internal circulation and program arrangement seeks to take advantage of the library and museum combination to weave together a seamless experience. Externally, the entire complex is shrouded with a veil of terra cotta panels, whose expression resemble books shelves, with the orientation of each panel carefully studied to enhance daylighting while control glare.
Taking inspiration from the work of local artist Shi-Chi Lee, the project integrates the building within an art park setting, creates a system of interwoven circulation paths, and incorporates the use of regional materials and colors, all of which results in a unique architectural typology that will become the defining cultural landmark of Kinmen.
