China National Archives of Publications and Culture / THAD

In the due north of Beijing, where the plain and the low-mountain area meet, lies a tranquil, picturesque land surrounded by luxuriant forests. Known as a “peaceful wonderland in northern Beijing,” it is where the China National Archives of Publications and Culture is located. The site, unbelievably, used to be an abandoned quarry. In April 2019, THAD received a design invitation for the China National Archives of Publications and Culture from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. A team led by Zhuang Weimin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, submitted a design proposal for the project. After three rounds of competitions with top design institutions and universities in China, THAD won. Following the development philosophy for the new era, Zhuang and his team carried out ecological rehabilitation on the abandoned quarry, restored the landscape of the site, and created an architectural complex that carries cultural features and integrates into the surroundings. After completion, the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, which has a gross floor area of 99,500 square meters, erects majestically at the foot of the Yan Mountains.