The timber building
A long roof and balconies among trees.
KaurJmeb — CC BY-SA 2.5 · 林高志 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · lienyuan lee — CC BY 3.0 · Abasaa — Public domain · lienyuan lee — CC BY 3.0 · Wpcpey — CC BY 4.0
The Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library stands inside green Beitou Park and is Taiwan's first green library. Its dark timber building with long roof and balconies looks like a big house among the trees, and many visitors come for the architecture, alongside local readers. It opened in November 2006 to a design by Bio-Architecture Formosana. It was built to cut water and electricity use: large windows reduce the need for lighting, the roof carries photovoltaic cells, and rainwater is collected for flushing toilets. The building has two floors and is admired for how it blends into the trees of the park. Walk around it to see the long roof, wooden panels and tall windows. A broad balcony overlooks the stream and trees, with seats where people read. Inside are high-ceilinged rooms with warm wood and shelves of books. It is a working library, so quiet is the first rule. The library is 0.3 km in a straight line east of Xinbeitou Station, an easy walk, and it pairs well with the nearby Beitou Thermal Valley. Keep your voice down, do not disturb readers with photography inside, and ask about the rules. Check closing days and hours before you go, as we could not confirm them.
A long roof and balconies among trees.
Reading seats above the stream.
Warm wood and shelves under a high ceiling.
Beitou Park, Beitou District, Taipei
Ask staff about the rules and do not disturb readers, as outside is easier.
Large windows cut lighting needs, solar cells sit on the roof and rainwater is collected.
