Conceptual Design of New Central Library of Macau

The project intents to transform the Old Court House building and the Former Judiciary Police Building into the New Central Library of Macau, which including the library, exhibition halls, a museum and an auditorium. The new facility will serve as the cultural landmark of Macau and a platform for cultural activities.

The New Central Library will be located at the east entrance of the Historic Center of Macau. The area thus has great cultural and historical significance. Given the classification of the Old Court Building as a “building of architectural interest”, and that the Former Judiciary Police Building is located inside the buffer zone of the Historic Center of Macau, the New Central Library will comply with Cultural Heritage Protection Law enforced by the Cultural Affair Bureau, with the objectives to ensure the complete preservation of the Old Court Building, including its unique style and all architectural elements of cultural value.

The site is also close to the most tourism popular streets of Macau, including Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro and Av. da Praia Grande. The main entrance of the Old Court Building, at the south of the site, faces the Jorge Álvares Monument.

The building will be divided into four main sections, including reader service and library collection spaces, multi-functional public area, administrative and staff workspace, as well as other supporting facilities.

Placing of the building takes into consideration the urban fabric and the surrounding pedestrian route of the historic old town. The building itself feature the shape of stacking books and bookshelves to create an iconic public building, while creating setbacks at different levels for the public.

The interior planning aims to create a series of public spaces that user groups of different ages can share together. With this goal, it create a central living room for the city, accessible by a series of balconies, platforms, ramps and landscaped outdoor spaces. Library users therefore can enjoy the indoor and outdoor spaces while making their arrangement for reading, studying and taking rest.

The project is designed in compliance with 2-star rating of China’s Green Building Evaluation Label.

Parameters

Site profile: Z shape lot, in accordance with clause no.3 of Circular no. 01/DSSOPT/2009

Construction type: New concrete building, including partial metal structures.

Building height：49.8 m

Building height classification: A2 classification（>31.5m, <50m，RSCI table II）

No. of floors above ground: 11

Site area：3,524.74 sqm

Gross floor area：25,014.4 sqm

External work area: approx.. 2,540.0 sqm

Building occupancy group: