Patterned aluminium panels wrap the stepped exterior of the Tainan Public Library, which Dutch studio Mecanoo and local office MAYU Architects have completed in southern Taiwan.
The 37,000-square-metre library, located in the city of Tainan, houses over a million books, alongside collections of music, films and modern art.
Its palatial, staggered form was designed by Mecanoo and MAYU Architects to pay homage to local vernacular, including the city s old temples with cantilevered roofs.
Above: Tainan Public Library references local temples. Top image: it has an inverted stepped form The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan has a rich history influenced by different cultures, explained Mecanoo.