Bookshop in Hangzhou

X+Living designed the new Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookstore within the bustling commercial center of Star Avenue, Binjiang District, adjacent to Qiantang River, China. Walking from Star Avenue Phase I to the forest gallery of Phase II, you can see the wholly transparent glass curtain wall fully covered with texts. 

Looking through the glass curtain, a white space consisting of circular bookshelf pillars escape the shackles of the surrounding environment. These white pillars carrying books rise up and reflect on the ceiling mirror, doubling spaces, in a sort of forest of books. 

The ceiling is decorated with small lights that are dancing joyfully as the elves guarding the forest. The ground-stationed desks are mingled with the forest, allowing people to read by sitting on or standing beside. Walking on the central axis of the space, the visitor transits from the lightness to the profound main hall of Zhongshuge – an oncoming quiet reading corridor. 

Here, the entire bookshelf extends endlessly to the side. The darker and lighter-colored shelves are orderly advanced or retreated. The chandeliers floating in the ceiling mirror softens the entire space where people under the lights, recollect the aromatic coffee or mediate in the world of books. In the Hangzhou Zhongshuge, there is also a children pavilion, in the form of a book playground. 

Hangzhou Zhongshuge, Binjiang District, China
Program: bookshop
Design: X+Living, Li Xiang (director)
Design team: Liu Huan, Fan Chen, Zhang Xiao, Tong Ni-Na
Area: 1,000 sqm
Completion: 2016