Public Library & Indoor Recreational Centre / P&T Architects and Engineers

Architects: P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd
Location: Area 3, Yuen Long, Hong Kong
Design Director : Bing Kwan
Design Associate : Edgar E. Cozzio
Design Team: Jenny Lau, Patrick Ng, Kah Wong, Eric Lo, Alvin Shiu, Khachornsak Tuntisook, Gali Wong, Lu Yuan
Project Director : Esther Chow
Project Associate : Sam Shyan Yee
Area: 14945.0 m2
Project Year: 2017
Photographs: P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd

Project Team: Daphne Li, Bon Tsang, Cindy Chan, Florence Chan, Leo Fung, Jim Cho, June Hui, Vivian Tsang, Cherry Chin, Esther Ma
Structural Engineer: P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd
Mechanical Engineer: J. Roger Preston Ltd
Interior Architect: P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd
Landscape Architect: Team 73 HK Ltd
Main Contractor: Unistress Building Construction Ltd
Facade Contractor: KPa Engineering Ltd
Cost Consultant: Northcroft HK Ltd
Client: Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) HK
Site: 6800 sqm
Cfa: 15585 sqm
Height: 5 storey, 35.3m

From the architect. Located along the main pedestrian promenade connecting cultural and educational facilities with Yuen Long Park and surrounded by residential developments, the new building is conceived to be of complementary nature – yet, a contribution of stimulating contemporary civic architecture with a distinguished new silhouette and a landmark in the neighborhood.

Yuen Long District Library and Indoor Recreation Center combines 2 floors of children’s and adult lending library with 2 floors of indoor recreational facilities like table tennis, gym, multi-functional fitness rooms, and a double basketball and badminton sports hall. With 1500 seats for spectators it can host city wide tournaments. These rather contradictory functions are separated by a book reserve storage facility on the intermediate floor.

The design has given particular consideration to the impact the new building has on its residential neighborhood most closely abutting the site. The building’s curvature and vertical differentiation softens the bulk of its considerable presence and the elliptical shape allows for continued view corridors for the residential buildings and excellent conditions for ventilation.

The precise placement on site, the cantilevers, the tilt and orientation of the building tiers, the entrances and internal circulation allow to radiate the internal functions outward and engage with the tree lined generous entrance plaza. Foyers and study halls interact visually with the surroundings in reciprocal ways. It is a joy to see how immediately the building has been adopted after its opening and how it has instantly become a vibrant meeting place.

Giving further expression to the forward skew of each elliptical tier and their disposition towards one another, the exterior is clad in an elegant vertical pinstripe clothing of standing seam insulated metal wall cladding. Two color tones of Zinc and Titanium Silver reflect the bustling public life within the plaza and the sky itself, thus creating a dynamic play of movement and light.