Yihang x Ningbo Qixin Library: A Breathing Public Study Rooted in Ancient Temple Heritage

Standing beside the Seven Pagoda Temple in Ningbo, the Qixin Library is a public cultural space open to everyone. With a building area of about 2,700 square meters and a planned collection of 400,000 volumes, the project follows the design philosophy of “one library holding past and present, one haven resting body and mind.” Yihang provided a full suite of spatial furniture and an integrated smart collection solution, blending comfortable reading, multifaceted social interaction, and intelligent book storage into a gentle, inclusive urban study built upon the cultural heritage of a thousand-year-old temple.

Natural-wood, human-centered reading furniture for immersive, quiet reading

Unlike the rigid, austere atmosphere of traditional libraries, Qixin Library aims for a relaxed reading experience that invites long stays. Echoing the building’s plain, understated texture, Yihang outfitted the space with warm wood-toned reading furniture throughout. Soft wood colors, linear lighting, and the courtyard greenery drawn in by floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the detachment of public spaces and create a naturally soothing reading environment.

Every table and chair in the series follows safe, human-centered design: desktops and chair bodies are finished with rounded edges to eliminate sharp corners, making them suitable for users of all ages, from seniors to children. For long study sessions and desk reading, the reading tables integrate partition eye-care lamps and charging outlets in multiple configurations, meeting every power need for study and digital research in one place. A modular table layout flexibly divides two-person booths and shared reading areas for four to eight people, building independent reading units within a limited footprint — balancing space efficiency with personal reading privacy, so readers can settle in for hours with peace of mind.

All-scenario compound spaces: a city’s cultural living room that welcomes everyone

As a public library, it serves visitors with very different needs: some need quiet for online classes or video meetings; others want group discussion or a small book club; still others simply need a corner to rest or wait. Through tiered furniture planning, Yihang covers every use case — solitude, exchange, and rest.

Independent acoustic booths with professional sound insulation give phone calls and online learning their own private space, free from disturbing other readers; semi-wooden partitions divide out enclosed booth seating, which with soft fabric cushions becomes a light-discussion zone for group exchange and the clash of ideas; along the sides of the collection area and in the lobby, casual sofas, single lounge chairs, and small round meeting tables are scattered across several buffer points for rest. This diversity of spaces breaks the stereotype of the library as “a place only for quiet reading,” letting every visitor find a corner that fits — transforming a single-purpose study into a city living room shared by all.

A smart collection system built to carry 400,000 volumes efficiently

To manage 400,000 volumes, Yihang equipped the library with an intelligent high-density shelving system: digitally controlled opening, closing, and document positioning greatly increase the storage capacity of the stacks and the efficiency of collection management. Open classification shelves keep documents neatly displayed, balancing ease of browsing with visual order — using technology to streamline storing, searching, and inventory across the whole workflow, creating a modern, high-efficiency collection space.

From the ergonomic details of a single reading table to compound functional spaces that cover every age group, and on to lightweight smart collection infrastructure, Yihang’s complete, integrated furniture solution deeply embodies the core idea of Qixin — “where the heart finds rest.” Rooted in the deep cultural lineage of the ancient Seven Pagoda Temple and combining human-centered design with intelligent technology, Yihang and Qixin Library have together created a public cultural venue that is warm, inclusive, efficient, and convenient — making reading a daily way to rest body and mind, letting this city study breathe freely, and carrying the civic life of the mind.