Shanghai Children’s Library is located at No.962 West Nanjing Road. In Shanghai, it plays the role of children’s literature resource center, children’s reading promotion and guidance center. With the rapid development of public culture, its branch library is planned to be built to optimize the facilities for children and protect their rights of reading.

The new branch library is located in Changfeng Business District, Putuo District, adjacent to Guangfu West Road in the north and Daduhe Road in the west. The Suzhou River is to the south of the site where there would be a waterside platform naturally; the north is only one way away from Changfeng Park. The site has the advantages of broad vision, greenery and waterscape, suitable for diverse activities, and convenient transportation.

From Changfeng Park to the Suzhou River, the existing urban park layout provides citizens with an ecological recreation area stretching for several kilometers from north to south. However, the site of the new library cuts off the serial interface of the landscape. Accordingly, from the perspective of urban planning, architects spare open space on the ground floor by the arched volume.

A unique area is defined not by the grand plaza, not by the landmark on the central axis, but by the river, the greenery and the bridging connection. In this way, the landscape on both sides can be continued, while the open space on the ground floor also produces a more attractive outdoor place for citizens and teenagers to communicate with each other.

Accordingly, the shape of the “bridge” was chosen as a sign of the library. Firstly, the massing stretching from east to west provides people with a broader view. Secondly, the building and the context are consistent with the spiritual temperament of its users, then the poetic and picturesque public scenarios would emerge. Furthermore, the arched massing could attract the crowd, making the building present as an inspiring and multi-functional place, illuminating the urban life in the city.

The overall design concept of the new library is an exploration of the future of children’s libraries, promoting the exemplary transformation from “library of books” to “library for people”. Children’s library advocates “children-oriented” operation, including services far more than lending books. It attaches great importance to the collection of various types of information suitable for the all-media era, and the organization of multi-element education activities. For example, facilities including puzzle hall, public platform, recording studio, training rooms, play space, AI bookstore, celebrity book bar and leisure space have been introduced.

The project has received wide attention from mainstream media and design platforms in China:

澎湃新闻 (The Paper) — highlighted the library as “a new landmark for children’s reading and urban culture.
上观新闻 (Shanghai Observer) — emphasized the library’s role in “reshaping public space for children and promoting reading rights in the city.”
搜狐网 (Sohu News) — reported on its multi-functional facilities and open.
有方（Position）— Featured the project for its “urban planning strategy of bridging landscape and architecture.
谷德（GOOOOOD）— Focused on the spatial experience and child-friendly design.