modular seaside mobile library travels across fishing villages in china

Moving Library by Studio WE sails culture across Yantai’s shores

Anchored along the coastline of Yantai’s Yangma Island in China, Seaside Mobile Library is a prefabricated timber structure designed to circulate between fishing villages, providing access to books, performances, and community activities. Developed by Studio WE (Yutao Chen and Yiwen Gu), the project draws from the island’s shipbuilding tradition to explore mobility as a mode of cultural and spatial connection.

The structure comprises three modular units that can be reconfigured to serve multiple functions, including a library, an open-air stage, or a seaside pavilion. Each module is constructed using locally sourced timber and prefabricated joinery, balancing structural stability with ease of assembly, disassembly, and transport. Mounted on a mobile base, the modules can be towed along the coastal road, activating various public sites and extending cultural infrastructure to remote areas.

Seaside Mobile Library anchors along Yantai’s Yangma Island coastline | all images courtesy of Studio WE

Seaside Mobile Library comprises three reconfigurable modules

Large openings within the design frame views of the sea and facilitate natural ventilation, while outdoor terraces extend the use of space for reading and gathering. The timber’s natural tone and texture integrate the structure into the coastal landscape, allowing it to blend with its surroundings while accommodating seasonal and community needs.

Beyond its function as a library, the project by Studio WE serves as a flexible cultural platform, hosting small-scale performances, reading sessions, and educational programs. It demonstrates an architectural approach centered on lightweight construction, adaptability, and contextual engagement, proposing a model of ‘moving public architecture’ where culture and community interaction can travel along the coastline.

the mobile structure brings books and cultural events to fishing villages

inspired by Yantai’s shipbuilding heritage, the design echoes maritime craftsmanship

the timber framework blends naturally with the beach environment

the library functions as both cultural space and community gathering point

each unit can be rearranged to create a library, stage, or pavilion

prefabricated timber construction ensures structural stability and easy assembly

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Seaside Mobile Library renders, drawings, construction details

axonometric diagram showing the modular wooden frame and prefabricated joinery system

elevation and section drawings detail the compact proportions and open spatial character

step-by-step diagrams illustrate the assembly process and interlocking timber joints

exploded axonometric diagram showing modular parts for transport and reconfiguration along the coastline

project info:

name: Seaside Mobile Library

architect: Studio WE

designers: Yutao Chen | @yutaoch, Yiwen Gu

location: Yantai, China

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom