Prologue: Source of Inspiration As a leading enterprise in the building materials and decorative industry, Team Value has created a 3,000-square-meter artistic showroom for new materials in the concept of a “Material Library”. Team Value Pan-Home Furnishing Showroom showcases the most cutting-edge and innovative products from both domestic and international markets. Here, “library” not only refers to the building’s design, but also reflects its practical management. Each new material is tagged with a unique QR code, allowing designers to scan and instantly access detailed information in the in-built system. This system, akin to a library catalog, provides designers with a highly efficient, one-stop solution for exploring and selecting the latest materials.

The Pingtan Children’s library is located in the Dong Minority village of Pingtan, Tongdao Province, Hunan, China. This small timber structure, three stories high and approximately 80 sqm in area is entirely built in timber. The building is located within a primary school courtyard serving more than 400 local children. Rather than a building with floors and rooms, this is a building consisting of two interwoven spiral staircases, a double helix that in turn becomes both the vertical circulation and the seating for the children.

With the potential of being a supporting node of a popular destination, SHAU shapes Microlibrary Warak Kayu to reflect the local narrative. As its name suggests, warak is derived from warak ngedong—a local dragon-like mythical creature, which happens to be represented by the diamond-patterned timber façade. Furthermore, the use of stilt structure and mostly timber material embody the character of many traditional houses in Indonesia. This contextualised building brings affinity and appeal to the neighbourhoods and the visitors.