NATIONAL KANSAY-KAN LIBRARY

Authors
A. Skokan, T. Berger, V. Kanyashin, I. Korbut, V. Mitenev, N. Tokarev

With the assistance of
M. Yelizarova

Address
Kansai, Japan

The total area
60 000 sq.m

The library is to become one of the main institutions of Kansai city - the center of scientific research which is under construction near Osaka. Except for the storage of printing materials it is planned to create on their basis the databases for users of computer networks of the whole world. Half of the building area is occupied by a storage room, other half - public rooms: main reading hall and small hall for information on Asia, training center where workers of other libraries gain experience, and also offices where the information is processed and databases are created.

The library is externally absolutely closed, it is a black box, a capsule for information storage, and at the same time - an open electronic window to the world. The global network space is a real context of this building. The library constructed on the module of 60х60 meters consists of two parts standing side by side, and separated by movement joint. Both parts are involved in game of unity and duality. This game manifests itself at each level - from plan composition to construction materials.