Lucie Trnková, Blanka Havlátová
student
CTU in Prague - Faculty of Civil Engineering
Czech Republic
Architecture
Projekt řeší rekonstrukci zámku zahrádky na konferenční hotel a jeho blízkého okolí. Naší hlavní myšlenkou byl nový zrod života v tomto zámku. Ta je vyobrazená… more
Omar Harb
advisor
USEK - Holy spirit University of Kaslik
Lebanon
As an architect and founder of Omar Harb Architects & Associates, my work centers on creating… more
For Project ID: 9186, titled "Hulunbuir Library" (located in Inner Mongolia, China), the project presents a unique challenge: balancing a massive civic program with an extreme subarctic climate and a vast, nomadic landscape.
Based on the jury’s typical focus for high-latitude regional architecture and the specific constraints of the Hulunbuir context, here is a professional evaluation and set of improvement suggestions.
1. Project Evaluation
A. Form vs. Climate (Thermal Logic)
Strengths: In Hulunbuir, where temperatures can drop to -40°C, a compact form is essential. If your design utilizes a "monolithic" or rounded massing, it is architecturally sound as it minimizes the surface-area-to-volume ratio, reducing heat loss.
Critical Review: Jurors will look for a "Winter Garden" or a buffer zone. If the library transition from the frozen exterior to the interior is too abrupt, it lacks climatic maturity. The entry sequence needs to be a "thermal airlock" that also serves as a social transition.
B. Cultural Identity (The "Nomadic" Spirit)
Strengths: A library in this region isn't just a book repository; it’s a community hearth. Using metaphors related to the grasslands, the "yurt" geometry (even if abstracted), or the horizon line helps ground the project in its specific geography.
Critical Review: Avoid "literal" cultural references. If the building looks too much like a traditional tent, it can feel like a caricature. The jury prefers "phenomenological" references—how the light mimics the vastness of the steppe or how materials reflect local textures.
C. Light Management
Strengths: In long winters, natural light is a precious resource for a library. Large atriums or light-wells are vital.
Critical Review: However, large glass facades in Inner Mongolia are a liability for insulation. The jury will check if you have balanced the "desire for light" with the "need for insulation." High-performance glazing or strategic "punched" openings are often more realistic than full glass curtains.
I. The "Fifth Facade" (The Roof)
Suggestion: In Hulunbuir, the building is often viewed from a distance across flat plains or from higher urban points. The roof is highly visible.
Refinement: Design the roof to handle heavy snow loads creatively. Could the snow be harvested? Or could the roof form create "snow drifts" that actually help insulate the base of the building?
II. Materiality & Tectonics
Suggestion: Move away from "global" materials (like pure white concrete or standard curtain walls).
Refinement: Introduce materials that feel "warm" to the touch and sight. Use timber interiors or local stone bases. For the Archicad/Lumion Prize, show detailed wall sections (1:20) that demonstrate how the insulation layer is continuous, preventing thermal bridging—this is a high-level technical detail that impresses technical jurors.
III. Programming for the "Off-Season"
Suggestion: A library in a nomadic/grassland region should serve as a 24/7 "living room" during the harsh winter.
Refinement: Explicitly show areas for non-quiet activities: a community kitchen, a heated indoor "park," or a gallery for local ethnic art. In your 3D renders, emphasize the "glow" of the building at night (when it gets dark at 4 PM) to show how it acts as a beacon for the city.
IV. Presentation Strategy (Visual Narrative)
The "Atmosphere" Render: Don't just show the library in a sunny summer afternoon. Include at least one high-quality render of the building in a blizzard or at night. Showing how the architecture stands up to the "worst" conditions demonstrates that you have designed for the reality of the site, not just for a pretty picture.
21.01.2026