Mushroom library for Children in Yunnan by Kong Xiangwei Studio

Nestled in the remote folds of the Wuliang Mountains, Yanzitou Village is home to six ethnic groups and just 71 households. The village faces the challenges of depopulation and aging residents, yet weekends bring life as children return from town schools, filling the plaza near the village history museum with energy and laughter. Situated on a narrow rocky plot between two historic dwellings and shaded by a sprawling raisin tree, the Mushroom Library serves as both a cultural gateway and a catalyst for rural rejuvenation. It embodies the potential of architecture to foster education, play, and intergenerational connection in a fragile rural context.

Symbiosis with Nature

The library’s design is guided by an improvisational, site-responsive approach. Collaborating with local artisans, 12mm ribbed steel bars were woven into branch-like arches cantilevering from the roof, forming a dual canopy that interacts with the raisin tree’s crown. The overlapping circular roofs, reminiscent of native mushrooms, lend the building a playful, symbolic identity. Cast-in-place concrete vaults replace traditional thatch-and-earth materials, offering durability while evoking the elemental simplicity of early shelters.

Materiality and Craft

Rejecting polished finishes, ordinary concrete celebrates the tactile warmth of rural craftsmanship. Construction imperfections are preserved intentionally, creating a rugged yet dignified texture that harmonizes with the village’s vernacular architecture. This handcrafted approach ensures that the library resonates with both its physical and cultural context.

Light as Narrative

Natural light is treated as a central element, animating the interior through a series of openings, including a central oculus, stair voids, and preserved tree hollows. Arched steel columns cast dendritic shadows, while semi-spherical bookshelves, woven from steel rods and clad in translucent colored acrylic panels, scatter kaleidoscopic reflections throughout the space. Curved, sloped walls double as seating, turning the library into a “living theater” where children can observe the movement of light and shadow throughout the day.

A Playful Labyrinth

The library’s iconic mushroom roof transforms depending on the viewpoint: from the eastern alley, it reads as a hat brim; from above, a whimsical face emerges. Inside, ascending pathways lead to a rooftop platform, where children can interact with the raisin tree, harvest its fruit, or view the forest canopy. By night, the structure is illuminated like a levitating UFO, becoming a fantastical landmark within the village.

Intergenerational Memory

The library is woven into the rhythms of village life. At dawn, Elder Yang waits for sunlight in the adjacent pavilion while children read; at noon, elders play cards as children explore the shelves; at dusk, children are escorted home under the mushroom roof. These daily rituals reinforce cross-generational bonds and preserve collective memory, transforming the library into a living “time capsule” of rural life.

A Vessel of Cultural Continuity

The Mushroom Library transcends its physical form, bridging tradition and modernity through material narratives and spatial design. It nurtures individual growth while reinforcing community identity, demonstrating how rural architecture can foster resilience, creativity, and continuity. The project exemplifies how thoughtfully designed spaces can celebrate heritage while opening paths toward a vibrant, shared future.

Photography: Arch Translator