Architecture

Underground library at sustainable farm is filled with surprises

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The Underground Library's sloping green roof helps the structure blend in with its natural surroundings
Kurkku Fields
At the heart of the library lies a circular room, with a magnificent timber ceiling that rises up towards the sky
Kurkku Fields
The Underground Library is filled with hidden reading nooks
Kurkku Fields
The Underground Library's sloping green roof helps the structure blend in with its natural surroundings
Kurkku Fields
A series of curved windows bring natural sunlight into the subterranean space, while also connecting visitors with the surrounding nature
Kurkku Fields
Passing through a series of twisting walkways, bookshelves rise up to the ceiling
Kurkku Fields
Keeping with traditional Japanese building aesthetics, the interior boasts warm timber furnishings and neutral tones
Kurkku Fields
Visitors can fully immerse themselves as they wander through the warm interior space
Kurkku Fields
The library is encased by a curved glass wall and walkway, overlooking the central grassy courtyard
Kurkku Fields
The innovative project was inspired to give patrons a reflective literature experience, while sitting in harmony with the surrounding nature

Kurkku Fields
Slim timber beams almost weave into each other as they twist upwards, creating an impressive circular ceiling with a central round skylight
Kurkku Fields
View gallery - 10 images

Tokyo-based architecture studio Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP has recently completed a captivating subterranean library. Dubbed Underground Library, the new reading space can be found beneath a grassy knoll located on the Kurkku Fields sustainable farm in Chiba, Japan. The innovative project was designed to offer patrons a reflective literature experience, while sitting in harmony with the surrounding natural spaces.

“The Underground Library lies like a cave, quietly hidden under the soil overgrown with trees and flowers,” says Kurkku Fields. “Just as plants and vegetables grow in symbiosis with microorganisms in the soil, we burrow into the ground, encounter books, accumulate knowledge, and cultivate the power of imagination. In order to step on the Earth again and advance to the future.”

Designed as a reflective and unimposing space, the Underground Library has been created so that visitors will simply stumble across its entrance when meandering around the Kurkku Fields sustainable farm. Therefore, the entryway emerges from the ground, inviting guests to quietly enter and explore its weaving corridors.

Passing through a series of twisting walkways, bookworms can fully immerse themselves as they wander through the warm interior space, filled with floor-to-ceiling high bookshelves, scattered cozy seating spots, and hidden reading nooks.

The library is encased by a curved glass wall and walkway, overlooking the central grassy courtyard
Kurkku Fields

In keeping with traditional Japanese building aesthetics, the interior boasts warm timber furnishings, neutral tones and raw concrete floors, and is encased by a curved glass wall overlooking the central grassy courtyard, bringing natural sunlight into the subterranean space while also connecting visitors with nature.

At the heart of the library lies a circular room, with a magnificent timber ceiling made up of a series a slim beams that almost weave into each other as they twist upwards towards a central circular skylight that filters light into the space below.

Slim timber beams almost weave into each other as they twist upwards, creating an impressive circular ceiling with a central round skylight
Kurkku Fields

A vast lush grass garden bed is installed above, over and around the underground space, which beautifully camouflages the library among its rural surroundings. The landscape architecture allows for easy monitoring of the irrigation and water retention, with simple and regular maintenance provided across the different seasons.

Passing through a series of twisting walkways, bookshelves rise up to the ceiling
Kurkku Fields

The Underground Library opened to the public on February 16, and is home to over 3,000 books across more than 50 categories, aimed at inspiring people towards their future, while absorbing the lessons and wisdom given to us from nature.

“We have selected books that offer a unique spread and connection to poetry, philosophy, history, religion, science, and economics, with a focus on nature and agricultural lifestyles,” added Kurkku Fields.

Sources: Kurkku Fields, Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP via Designboom

View gallery - 10 images
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3 comments
paul314
Underground can be really good for libraries and reading rooms. You lose yourself in the book completely with minimal distractions.
Bob Flint
Although the silence of subterranean environment is conducive to reading, moisture, & books don't go together well, lets hope there is ample control in the walls, & plenty of air exchange for the humans as well.
BanisterJH
It looks quite beautiful. It would be interesting to see that timber roof from the outside. There's some photos online showing round roofs in the distance, but it's impossible to tell which is for the library. I like the notion of a library with idiosyncratic interior spaces. I was in a large research library that was all a huge rectangle inside, and it really motivated one not to spend any time there.