A Surreal New Bookstore Has Just Opened in China – Architectural Digest

For a book lover, stepping into a bookstore is always exciting, but a new bookstore in China makes the experience absolutely spellbinding. Dujiangyan Zhongshuge, located in Chengdu, was designed by Shanghai-based architecture firm X+Living, which has created several locations for Zhongshuge. The two-story space appears cathedral-like, thanks to the mirrored ceilings and gleaming black tile floors which reflect the bookcases, creating a visual effect that feels akin to an M.C. Escher drawing. The mirror ceiling in the space is the signature of Zhongshuge bookstore, says Li Xiang, founder of X+Living. It effectively extends the space by reflection.

Upon entering, shoppers encounter C-shaped bookcases, which create a series of intimate spaces. In the center of the store, towering arches and columns take advantage of the full height of the space. These bookcases were inspired by the history and topography of the region. We moved the local landscape into the indoor space, says Li. The project is located in Dujiangyan, which is a city with a long history of water conservancy development, so in the main area, you could see the construction of the dam integrated into the bookshelves.

The design of the interiors was inspired by the topography of the region.

The firm used film printed with books on the upper shelves so it would appear that books stretched from floor to ceiling. If we placed real books on the upper shelves, its not only hard for readers to reach them but also difficult for operators to take care of, says Li. The store already has a collection of over 80,000 books, so theres actually no waste of space. Another key part of the design was lighting. We designed light belts on each shelf to create a good light effect, which also draws the outline of each layer, making the shelf more stereoscopic and clear to give readers a visual impact and also make it convenient for readers to find books on the shelves, says Li.

The architects went to great lengths in ensuring the lighting was such that each shelf provided a visual impact, while allowing visitors ease in finding specific books.

See more here:
A Surreal New Bookstore Has Just Opened in China - Architectural Digest