Step into a world where nature, play, imagination, learning all come into one. A new space where children don’t just read books to learn about nature, but instead play and interact with it.. This is not just a library. This is a living, breathing ecosystem of knowledge and curiosity.

Inspired by the Phallus Multicolour mushroom, this design reimagines the Ang Mo Kio Library as an immersive, biophilic environment. One where organic architecture nurtures learning through play, sensory exploration, and interaction with the natural world. Drawing from the mushroom’s unique porous veil and umbrella-like form, the library unfolds in a series of interconnected hexagonal modules that rise and fall across the site, mimicking the growth patterns of fungi in the wild.

At its heart, this design is about connecting everything between child and nature, form and function, imagination and education. The hexagonal pattern governs not just the floor plan, but the experience. From filtered daylight casting playful shadows across reading nooks, to canopy structures that shelter and shade like giant mushroom caps, every element invites discovery. Children are encouraged to climb, explore, and engage physically with the architecture creating play pockets at every corner.

However, this isn't just a playground in disguise. The architecture works in tandem with the site. The tallest modules are placed along the north to shield the main play courtyard from the harsh sun, while an open east-west axis ensures a constant flow of natural ventilation. Water features further cool the air as it passes through,allowing a cooler microclimate without the use of mechanical ventilation. Making sure that the architecture not just takes inspiration from nature but lives along it as well.

In this rewilded vision of a library, nature is not a backdrop or afterthought. It is a teacher. A collaborator. A guide. Through biomimicry and thoughtful spatial design, this project invites children to reconnect with the environment, fostering curiosity, environmental empathy, and joyful learning.

This is not the library of the future.
This is the library children deserve today.