The Bookube is an innovative, sustainable central library being developed in Seoul’s Dongdaemun district. Designed with minimal environmental impact, it aims to become a cultural and ecological landmark that promotes awareness of the life cycle of books and encourages community interaction across all ages.
rchitecturally, the library features two towering book-shaped cores, rotated floor plates for diverse spatial experiences, and sculptural staircases linking all seven floors, enhancing user connection and visibility. Large open facades provide uninterrupted views and natural light, while buffer zones ensure acoustic comfort. A 10-meter-high lobby welcomes visitors, and a ground-level multipurpose hall with an openable facade leads into the adjacent “Bookube Tree Library”—a sensory educational space that grows paper-producing trees.
Below ground, an archive ensures optimal preservation of valuable documents. The hybrid timber-concrete-curtain wall structure blends modern sustainability with traditional Korean design influences, including timber louvres inspired by Hanok roofs that manage sunlight and collect rainwater.
Bookube aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, offering:
- Natural, healthy materials for well-being
- Learning spaces for all ages
- Recycling and reuse of rainwater
- Clean energy via solar panels and heat pumps
- Modular and flexible construction for long-term adaptability
- Promoting urban biodiversity through tree planting
- Climate protection through CO₂-neutrality
Ultimately, The Bookube is both a functional library and a living educational experience, merging culture, sustainability, and design.
Client: Seoul Metropolitan Government