A futuristic library in China has become a global architectural sensation, earning the nickname “The Sea of Books” for its stunning interior design. The Tianjin Binhai Library, located in the Binhai Cultural Center, is a five-story architectural marvel that holds over 1.2 million books and is redefining the public library experience.
Designed by Dutch architectural firm MVRDV in collaboration with the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute (TUPDI), the library’s most striking feature is its floor-to-ceiling, cascading bookshelves that curve and flow like a series of terraced waves. This unique design creates an immersive, topographical landscape that invites visitors to wander through a sea of knowledge.
At the heart of the library is a massive, luminous sphere, known as “The Eye,” which serves as an auditorium. This central sphere can be seen from the park outside through a large eye-shaped opening in the building’s facade, giving the library its other famous nickname.
Since its opening in October 2017, the library has attracted millions of visitors, who are drawn as much by its innovative design as by its collection. The library is part of a larger cultural complex, and its design successfully merges form and function, proving that a library can be both a functional space for education and a breathtaking work of art.
