Winners of Tiny Library 2021

We are extremely excited to announce the winners of the Tiny Library 2021 Architecture Competition. The architectural design competition posed a challenge for the participants to rethink and re-imagine the idea of Library as a 21st century self-learning and educational incubation space that not only sheds light on conventional means of knowledge but also encourages its users to interact, share ideas and grow together. The Tiny Library- looked at self-learning as a major tool and skill that is to be refined for future generations as they journey through education and beyond.

FIRST PLACE: RESURGENCE OF THE SCARLET STREETS by ASTHA SAHAY – JANHAVI PATIL – ARSH KANIA(INDIA)

Located in Sonagachi, the largest red light district in Asia is one such area which still lives in the shadows of ignorance and discrimination when it comes to education. The new tiny library is a catalyst; one that has ability to offer not only what it contains but the way it reveals the container, the building imagines the activity to be outside where it becomes the backdrop for activities as well as inside through an interface. A human library is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogues. It is a place where real people are on loan to readers. A place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.

The concept is similar to that of a traditional library. If book is read and discussed or shared among like minded readers, the human library has people engaging in conversations. Like books, participants of the human library can be picked from a list to engage in conversations and share stories on a one on one basis.
The second is the sunken library with reading spaces junior library/day care centre, stortelling area, digital library, screening area with the possibility of changing the spaces according to the needs of the user. The digital library has podcasts and recordings of the human library discussions along with e-books and other resources.

SECOND PLACE: READ ON THE WHEEL by MIAOXIN WANG (UNITED STATES)

A Tiny Library could adapt to a new typology and become more inclusive towards Blue Riders by creating space for them to access educational materials on their wheels, and also serve the larger community through programs such as consulting and book-reading seminars. The site occupies the setback zones from two major streets in front of a popular commercial block in Beijing, China.

THIRD WINNER: READING IN THE FIELD by LIFANG ZHANG – FENG DI (CHINA)

“In the future when the transformation from traditional farming methods to modernization is completed through learning new technologies, the library can also become a memorial place to showcase the traditional culture that has been preserved.” Located in a remote area in northern China, the envisaged library floats in the field which consists of a round courtyard. The courtyard inside, which is connected to the outside wheat field, is equipped with tool storage racks. The outer wall of the library is made of wheat straw barns, which has functions such as heat preservation and heat insulation. At the same time, whenever the first season’s harvest comes, the new wheat straw wall is replaced, and the old one returns to the field becomes fertilizer, completing a new cycle. Source and images Courtesy of Volume Zero.

Honourable Mentions:

A PLACE FOR FORGOTTEN WORD- UPLIFT, EDUCATE, PRESERVE by SNEHA DHANUKA – DHRUV SHAH (INDIA)