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UNNC Library
Ningbo, China

A new library that reflects the changing nature of learning

The University of Nottingham Ningbo (UNNC) Library can accommodate up to 2,000 people and provides a central social space for the entire campus. In addition to traditional quiet spaces for individual learning, the library has multi-function rooms, event spaces including a gallery, discussion areas for social study and a meditation area.

The library has been designed with distinct functional areas, arranged to reflect a gradual reduction in ambient noise from the first to the fourth level. This allows students to choose spaces suited to quiet study or social interaction, depending on their needs.

The ground floor of the library is dedicated to social learning and the cultivation of an educational community that serves the whole campus. This ‘social garden’, inspired by the campus’s green spaces, seeks to partially compensate for the open space displaced by the new library development.

Green planting is integrated throughout the library’s interior, creating a calming environment that supports wellbeing. Each floor takes inspiration from a local indigenous bird, expressed through distinctive features. Large balconies on every level further enhance the connection between inside and outside.

Level 1 is inspired by the Red-billed Starling, a sociable, vocal bird that lives in groups and close to human activity. Reflecting these characteristics, the first level features a variety of interactive spaces, including an exhibition hall, coffee lounge and meditation room, all arranged around a central entrance atrium. As the largest floor in the library, it can accommodate up to 1,000 students at a time.

Level 2 draws inspiration from the Light-vented Bulbul, evoking a lively and cheerful atmosphere. Designed to support small group interactions, the floor offers a variety of semi-public spaces for discussion and collaborative activities. It also emphasises project-based work, featuring 3D printers, an audio-visual recording studio and a maker space that supports creativity across both physical and digital mediums, from hands-on tools like LEGO to virtual design environments.

Level 3 is inspired by the solitary and discreet night Heron, reflecting a focus on concentration and quiet study. Designed to accommodate around 500 students, it offers a variety of silent study areas and houses significantly more volumes than the other levels. This floor provides a calm, contemplative environment for individual learning.

Level 4, inspired by the unassuming little Grebe, is designed for quiet study and reflection. It houses the Research & Computer Lab and the Digital Lab, alongside extensive book collections. The atmosphere on this floor continues the library’s theme of calm and contemplation, supporting focused academic work in a technology-rich setting.

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