Endless Shelves. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE
22/05/2016.
[Hangzhou] China
metalocus, PALOMA DE LA QUINTANA
metalocus, PALOMA DE LA QUINTANA
After years of growth, Hangzhou Zhongshuge is always adhering to its initial desire to emerge as the most beautiful bookstore for readers, and constantly strives to work on the most culturally artistic bookstore, from learning how to walk, to live, to brave and to persevere. The Zhongsuhge-Hangzhou store is located within the Star Avenue shopping complex in the city's Binjiang district.
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Corridor. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Corridor. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Detail. Corridor. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Detail. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Ceiling. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Details. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Children pavilion. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Children pavilion. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Children pavilion. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Children pavilion. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Children pavilion. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Children pavilion. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Oval reading room with stepped shelving. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Night outside vision. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Outside vision. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
Ground floor plan. Zhongsuhge Hangzhou bookstore by XL-MUSE. Photography © Shao Feng
An oval reading room with stepped shelving and a display room with tree-trunk-shaped columns are among the spaces designed by Shanghai studio XL-Muse for this bookshop in Hangzhou, China
Zhongsuhge-Hangzhou store is located within the bustling commercial center of Star Avenue, Binjiang District, adjacent to Qiantang River. 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 pure white space consisting of circular bookshelf pillars escape the shackles of the surrounding environment. These white pillars carrying books rise up straight to the sky. Under the reflection of ceiling mirror, they seem to have a conversation beyond time. Additionally, the wall mirror doubles the transverse dimension to enable the whole book spaces to seem unbounded as the real nature. Upon exposure to the forest of books, we intend to acknowledge readers the awareness of knowledge as indispensable as oxygen from trees in our lives. These tree-like pillars stand tall, and emit the light of knowledge to indulge every soul comes here. 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, flexibly as creek to allow people to read by sitting on or standing beside. Tirelessly, they help us to acquire the strength granted by the texts.
Walking on the central axis of the forest zone and walking through a doorway as guided by the lights to the border of light and shade, we transit 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, as changing mountains or unattainable ladders or fortitude upright spines to silently convey the power of knowledge to us. The chandeliers floating in the ceiling mirror softens the entire space like a firefly. People under the lights, recollect the aromatic coffee or mediate in the world of books.
Cross the corridor is the stair reading area. The circular skylight pours down from the ceiling mirror, and the encircling bookshelves look like the swirling lamp belt. Here is a theater to unfold an outstanding drama, and the characters are book lovers sitting on the soft couch or standing beside the bookshelves. In the stair study, people can read or hold the reading party for book lovers to sit around.
In the Hangzhou Zhongshuge, there is a children pavilion, which is a book playground. The designer arts bookshelves as playground facilities including merry-go-round, roller coaster, hot air balloons and pirate ships to give children a happy reading experience as if playing in the playground, while the floor of galaxy maps not only inspires the imagination of children and also interestingly educate them the knowledge of galaxy.
The famous British novelist Somerset Maugham once said, to acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. Hangzhou store of Zhongshuge blends the definitions of books into every space by upholding the usual respect for books and knowledge, and infuses the minds of readers with the sacred books by way of design. In today’s distracting and harassing context, you still can find a place to rest your soul.
Zhongsuhge-Hangzhou store is located within the bustling commercial center of Star Avenue, Binjiang District, adjacent to Qiantang River. 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 pure white space consisting of circular bookshelf pillars escape the shackles of the surrounding environment. These white pillars carrying books rise up straight to the sky. Under the reflection of ceiling mirror, they seem to have a conversation beyond time. Additionally, the wall mirror doubles the transverse dimension to enable the whole book spaces to seem unbounded as the real nature. Upon exposure to the forest of books, we intend to acknowledge readers the awareness of knowledge as indispensable as oxygen from trees in our lives. These tree-like pillars stand tall, and emit the light of knowledge to indulge every soul comes here. 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, flexibly as creek to allow people to read by sitting on or standing beside. Tirelessly, they help us to acquire the strength granted by the texts.
Walking on the central axis of the forest zone and walking through a doorway as guided by the lights to the border of light and shade, we transit 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, as changing mountains or unattainable ladders or fortitude upright spines to silently convey the power of knowledge to us. The chandeliers floating in the ceiling mirror softens the entire space like a firefly. People under the lights, recollect the aromatic coffee or mediate in the world of books.
Cross the corridor is the stair reading area. The circular skylight pours down from the ceiling mirror, and the encircling bookshelves look like the swirling lamp belt. Here is a theater to unfold an outstanding drama, and the characters are book lovers sitting on the soft couch or standing beside the bookshelves. In the stair study, people can read or hold the reading party for book lovers to sit around.
In the Hangzhou Zhongshuge, there is a children pavilion, which is a book playground. The designer arts bookshelves as playground facilities including merry-go-round, roller coaster, hot air balloons and pirate ships to give children a happy reading experience as if playing in the playground, while the floor of galaxy maps not only inspires the imagination of children and also interestingly educate them the knowledge of galaxy.
The famous British novelist Somerset Maugham once said, to acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. Hangzhou store of Zhongshuge blends the definitions of books into every space by upholding the usual respect for books and knowledge, and infuses the minds of readers with the sacred books by way of design. In today’s distracting and harassing context, you still can find a place to rest your soul.
More information
Design director
Li Xiang
Design team
Liu Huan, Fan Chen, Zhang Xiao, Tong Ni-na
Design company
XL-MUSE
Area
1000 sqm
Li Xiang. X+Living
XL MUSE Architectural Design (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. // X+Living // Li Xiang is president/ Creative director. Li Xian was graduated from the Birmingham City University authenticated by Architecture association of RIBA.
Established X+Living in 2011. Cross-field to Interior Design, won several prestigious award, 2015 founded her own furniture brand with the ideology of environmental friendly, quality and spreading joy; adding in a touch of humor and minimalist she gets a lot of praises from the medias and fans.
Established X+Living in 2011. Cross-field to Interior Design, won several prestigious award, 2015 founded her own furniture brand with the ideology of environmental friendly, quality and spreading joy; adding in a touch of humor and minimalist she gets a lot of praises from the medias and fans.
