Beijing 751 Library by Do Union Architecture: Industrial Heritage Meets Modern Cultural Space

Beijing’s 751 Library, designed by Do Union Architecture, is a remarkable fusion of modern cultural space and preserved industrial heritage. Located at the heart of the 751-798 Art District, China’s largest art district and a key venue for Beijing Fashion Week and Design Week, the library revitalizes a former industrial site while celebrating the area’s unique historical character.

The library occupies a site previously used as a coal ash-washing pool from the 1950s, part of an East Germany-aided electronics factory. For decades, the pool, along with its overhead crane and associated structures, marked the industrial landscape at the district’s Locomotive Plaza terminus. After 2010, operations ceased, leaving a vacant site that interrupted the continuous 300-meter-long commercial frontage of 798 Street.

Revitalizing Industrial Heritage

Do Union Architecture envisioned the library as the cultural climax of Locomotive Plaza, integrating the new structure seamlessly with the surrounding industrial relics. The building’s footprint respects the original outline of the coal-washing pool and opens fully on all sides, creating a visual and functional connection with existing coal conveyors, boilers, tracks, cranes, and locomotives. This design approach transforms the historical industrial layout into a vibrant urban cultural scene.

The landscape design enhances this integration, linking the Locomotive Square to the factory’s northern and southern “hinterlands” and creating an active, cross-shaped urban space. Industrial remnants are preserved and harmonized with contemporary interventions, maintaining the raw texture of the site while introducing modern public amenities. The project demonstrates a human-centered approach to industrial heritage preservation.

Multi-Purpose Cultural Complex

While primarily a library, the Beijing 751 Library also functions as a cultural hub with spaces for forums, conferences, cafes, and dining. The building spans two floors above ground and one below, offering flexible and inclusive spaces for public engagement.

The facade is defined by continuous fair-faced concrete arches, offering a striking contrast to the surrounding rough industrial elements. A preserved overhead crane is integrated into the building design, forming a unique architectural feature that interacts with the roof space and adds dynamic movement to the composition.

Inside, glass curtain walls and expansive skylights invite the industrial landscape into the library, creating reflections and visual dialogues between interior and exterior. Half of the ground floor is opened to form a three-story, nearly transparent atrium, maximizing spatial openness. This arrangement allows the rich industrial scenery to penetrate the interior, producing a dramatic and immersive experience for visitors.

Architectural Significance

The Beijing 751 Library is a prime example of adaptive reuse and cultural regeneration in urban architecture. By combining industrial preservation, public space activation, and modern design techniques, Do Union Architecture has created a landmark that is both historically respectful and vibrantly contemporary.

All photographs are works of Xuanang Tian, Zhou Li