Library & Information Center at Guizhou Media Vocational School
Guizhou Media Vocational School – Context & Historical Inspiration – Library & Information Center.
In Qingzhen, an emerging district west of Guiyang (the capital of Guizhou Province, CHINA), the new Library & Information Center stands at the heart of the 20-hectare Guizhou Media Vocational & Technical School campus, scheduled for completion in 2026.
Qingzhen carries a strong educational tradition dating back to the early 1900s, when church-run schools expanded access to learning. The design recalls this legacy by orchestrating varied heights and filtered daylight through colored glass and sculptural skylights, creating a solemn yet uplifting atmosphere reminiscent of regional churches.
Spatial Design and Landscape Integration
Library & Information Center at Guizhou Media Vocational School
The five-story, 18,876-square-meter building follows a north–south axis aligned with the site’s natural slope. At the southern end, the student library forms a striking visual threshold from the open campus. Toward the north, the second volume steps with the terrain, enclosing a sequence of courtyards and housing offices and studios. This gradual transition from openness to enclosure marks the ceremonial and intellectual core of the campus.
Materiality and Red-Sand Façade
A synthetic coating mixed with locally sourced red sand clads the library and the entire campus. This cost-effective finish echoes the iron-rich weathered rocks that shape the surrounding hills. The reddish mass appears to rise from the mountain itself, while the sloping eastern and western facades evoke the contours of the regional topography.
Light-Filled Courtyards and Ventilation
Inside, the bright cathedral-like spaces are structured by a grid system perforated by a series of courtyards. These voids reinterpret the traditional “courtyard within a courtyard” pattern of mountain settlements and classical Chinese academies, ensuring ample natural light and cross-ventilation throughout the building.
Arches, Perspectives and Collective Space
Library & Information Center at Guizhou Media Vocational School
Layered arched openings—sometimes parallel. Sometimes enclosing smaller rooms—form overlapping sightlines and shifting perspectives. This repetitive geometry fosters both a sense of openness and intimate moments of
reflection.
Taoist Color Symbolism and Skylights
Clusters of sculptural skylights of Guizhou Media Vocational & Technical School campus descend from above at varying heights. Diffusing gentle colored light over reading and study areas. Drawing on Taoist philosophy, the architects use red (fire/vitality), blue (wood/wisdom) and yellow (earth/sacredness) to express the five elements in spatial form. The shifting hues add a theatrical quality to the interiors, a subtle nod to the campus’s role as Guizhou’s main center for broadcasting, film and media education.
Conclusion: A Spiritual Learning Environment
The Library & Information Center embodies both tradition and innovation, anchoring the campus to its cultural context while shaping a new architectural landmark for Guizhou’s educational landscape.
Library & Information Center
(Guizhou Media Vocational & Technical School)
Architects: West-line Studio
Year: 2025
Location: Qingzhen, Guizhou Province, China
Total Area: 18,876 sqm
Floor n.: 5
Team
Lead Architects: Haobo Wei, Jingsong Xie
Interior Design: Yudan Luo
Structural Engineers: Yuanping Li, Dingping Fu
Site Supervision: Dingping Fu, Minghua Ou
Photographers: Yong Tan,