Wikipedia

Underground Library

The Underground Library (地中図書館, chichū toshokan), also called the Library in the Earth, is a library built within a valley on the corner of Kurkku Fields, a sustainable farm in Kisarazu, Japan.[1][2] Designed by Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP Architects, it opened to the public on February 16, 2023.[3]

Underground Library
地中図書館
Map
General information
Town or cityKisarazu
CountryJapan
Coordinates35°19′29″N 139°58′59″E / 35.32484102346224°N 139.98317804633456°E / 35.32484102346224; 139.98317804633456
Completed2022
Opened2023
Design and construction
Architect(s)Hiroshi Nakamura

The Underground Library was awarded Best Architecture Design by the Asia Architecture Design Awards in 2024 for its "innovative design and emphasis on sustainability."[4] In 2025, Tokyo Weekender named it one of the most beautiful libraries in Japan.[5]

Design

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Nakamura designed and built the Underground Library on a crevice of land that had been previously filled with construction waste but subsequently reclaimed. Rather than build a library on top of the earth, Nakamura intended to embed it within a valley to cultivate a modest relationship of architecture to land; as such, "native vegetation and microorganisms" thrive on the soil above it.[6]

Nakamura's goal was to create an enclave where farmers could read on rainy days or after working on sunny days.[7] Inside, the wood-and-concrete building makes use of natural ventilation and lighting through skylights that can open and close, with concentric designs and mutually supported beams and shelves built in lattice formation.[8][9][10][11] One room also has an adjustable pinhole which can turn into a camera obscura.[12]

With a capacity of up to 8,000 books, and 3,000 shown, the Underground Library's collection was curated by Yohei Kawakami with an emphasis on nature and agriculture, as well as over 50 other categories.[13][14][15]

History

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Kurkku Fields, a lot of 30 hectares in Kisarazu, Japan, has been gradually prepared and developed for sustainable farming and experimental living since the 2010s.[16] It officially opened to the public in 2019 for visitors to experience a confluence of food, art, and agriculture against a natural backdrop.[17]

Since then, numerous other facilities have been designed and built for Kurkku Fields, including an accommodation called Cocoon.[18][19] The Underground Library was completed in April 2022 and opened to for guest reservation on February 16, 2023.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ 達信伊藤 (2024-05-22). "中村拓志＆NAP建築設計事務所による、千葉・木更津市の「地中図書館」。農業生産法人が運営する施設内での計画。植物や微生物の反映の下にある"慎ましい"存在を求め、大地の下の"やすらかな居場所"を志向。大地と人間の叡智に包まれながら"地球を想う"図書館をつくる". architecturephoto.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  2. ^ Sienra, Regina (2023-12-30). ""Underground Library" Seamlessly Blends With Fields of Lush Japanese Landscape". My Modern Met. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  3. ^ "千葉県の〈クルックフィールズ〉内に「地中図書館」がオープン。秘密基地のような空間に". GINZA (in Japanese). 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  4. ^ "Library in the Earth". aadawards.com. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  5. ^ Shin, Eugenie (2025-06-13). "The Most Beautiful Libraries in Japan". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  6. ^ "土のなかに潜り込んで地球を想う「地中図書館」KURKKU FIELDSにオープン". ELEMINIST (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  7. ^ "Humbly nestled under the earth offering a serene place for rest". C3GLOBE. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  8. ^ "Library In The Earth / Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP". 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  9. ^ "Library in the Earth by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP — Thisispaper". thisispaper.com. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  10. ^ "千葉・木更津「クルックフィールズ」に「地中図書館」が完成！". ELLE (in Japanese). 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  11. ^ Ebert, Grace (2023-03-01). "Readers Burrow into a Bookworm Haven in Kurkku Fields' 'Underground Library'". Colossal. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  12. ^ "Library in the Earth: A Subterranean Literary Haven Rooted in Nature". Yatzer. 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  13. ^ "〈地中図書館〉が木更津にオープン。大地の中へ潜り込み、本を読み耽る". 「colocal コロカル」ローカルを学ぶ・暮らす・旅する (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  14. ^ "【女子旅 千葉県】KURKKU FIELDSに「地中図書館」が近日オープン。土の中で本と向き合える非日常の空間 （2ページ目） | ファッション雑誌『リンネル』の読みもの". リンネル.jp │ 宝島社の雑誌リンネル（Liniere）公式WEBサイト (in Japanese). 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  15. ^ Borgobello, Bridget (2023-02-28). "Underground library at sustainable farm is filled with surprises". New Atlas. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  16. ^ HASEGAWA, AYA (2023-03-07). "大地の中で本を読む。木更津に地中図書館がオープン！". Vogue Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  17. ^ "自然さまよい見つける書庫 偶然の出会い楽しむ工夫 地中図書館（木更津市） 【ちば建物めぐり】（３）". 千葉日報オンライン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  18. ^ "木更津・KURKKU FIELDS（クルックフィールズ）に、中村拓志＋NAP建築設計事務所が設計したライブラリー〈地中図書館〉がオープン、皆川明がデザイン監修したヴィラ・cocoon（コクーン）も昨秋オープン - TECTURE MAG（テクチャーマガジン） | 空間デザイン・建築メディア". TECTURE MAG（テクチャーマガジン） |　空間デザイン・建築メディア - TECTURE MAG（テクチャーマガジン）は、建築・インテリアデザインに関わる設計者や建材・プロダクトメーカー各社のクリエイティブな活動を支えるウェブメディアです。 (in Japanese). 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  19. ^ designboom, matthew burgos I. (2023-02-17). "underground library in japan's kurkku fields invites bookworms in a cavern-like reading space". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  20. ^ "A submerged Japanese library by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP as a 'tranquil place' for reading and rest". Archinect. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  21. ^ "約3000冊の蔵書と緑の谷間で過ごす。千葉・木更津の「KURKKU FIELDS」に中村拓志設計の「地中図書館」がオープン". 美術手帖 (in Japanese). 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
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