The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features Beijing City Library in China by Snøhetta. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

The Beijing City Library in China, designed by Norwegian studio Snøhetta, features a glass-lined structure punctuated by towering tree-like columns and rooms disguised as hills.

Commenters analysed the structure closely, with one characterising it as having a “feeling of extravagance” while also criticising it by suggesting: “It can only mean massive expenditure.”

Another observer perceived it as “borrowing heavily” from Frank Lloyd Wright’s SC Johnson Wax HQ.

Other stories in this week’s newsletter that fired up the comments section included space tourism company Space Perspective’s test capsule for its Neptune spacecraft, a high-protein food by scientists from South Korea’s Yonsei University and Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza’s extension of his 1999 Serralves Museum project in Porto.

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Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.

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