Platinum Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2024
Yinchuang Zhong Shu Ge Book Store
by Masato Kure and Masashi Ota
- A' Design Award 2024 Platinum Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 4,058,834
- Verification code 35388D582F · Verify this award
About Yinchuang Zhong Shu Ge Book Store
The bookstore represents Ningxia's cultural blend with its elegant design and iconic mid-air crossing bookshelves, reflecting diverse knowledge and interactions. In a high-ceilinged space, these shelves foster a dynamic ambiance, engaging visitors in a nexus of ideas. It transcends being just a book space, evolving into a lively intersection for literature, people, and cultures, thus nurturing a 'vibrant community' that encourages knowledge and cultural exchange.
Within the evolving discourse of experiential retail design, Masato Kure's Yinchuang Zhong Shu Ge Book Store emerges as a remarkable synthesis of commercial function and contemplative architecture, seemingly drawing upon longstanding traditions of library design while reimagining these conventions for contemporary cultural engagement. The work appears to participate in an ongoing architectural conversation regarding the transformation of retail environments into destinations offering immersive sensory experiences that transcend mere transactional function, suggesting affinities with phenomenological approaches to spatial design that prioritize embodied human experience within carefully orchestrated material environments. The designer demonstrates considerable sophistication in the deployment of forced perspective and bilateral symmetry to create perceptions of spatial infinity that amplify the modest dimensions into apparently boundless realms of literary possibility, while the consistent application of warm maple veneer across all surfaces establishes a unified material language that wraps visitors in protective embrace. Particularly noteworthy is the integration of stepped floor platforms that serve multiple functions simultaneously as circulation path, informal seating, and display surface, inviting varied modes of inhabitation from purposeful browsing to extended contemplative reading. The chromatic restraint of the warm neutral palette allows the colorful diversity of book spines to emerge as the primary decorative element, honoring the merchandise itself as visual spectacle while the architecture assumes supporting role. Biophilic insertions of living moss panels introduce organic counterpoint to the precise geometric order, acknowledging contemporary understanding of human psychological need for natural elements within built environments. The concealed illumination strategy transforms the shelving system into a luminous apparatus that seems to generate light from within rather than receiving it from external sources, imbuing the space with qualities traditionally associated with sacred architecture. One might consider how this environment repositions the act of book browsing as pilgrimage through a temple of accumulated human knowledge, inviting visitors to contemplate their relationship to literary heritage and the enduring significance of physical books within an increasingly digital age.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Yinchuan is a region where a variety of cultures intertwine, consistently generating new charm. Our bookstore aims to embody such essence of Ningxia, focusing on spatial design that allows you to intuitively perceive this area's allure. Its symbol is a unique structure where bookshelves cross in mid-air. Just as Ningxia's colorful cultures intermingle, bookshelves intersect within the space, each bringing books that represent different viewpoints and knowledge. This could be described as the meeting point of new perspectives and the intersection of new knowledge. Moreover, with a high-ceiling design, the crossing bookshelves in mid-air create a dynamic space, enticing visitors into a powerful world the moment they step in. This design not only alters the shape, but also plays a significant role in providing a place where books, people, and various cultures intersect. In other words, our bookstore is not just a place to arrange books, but a 'vibrant community' where knowledge and culture are woven together.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Located on the 6th and 7th floors of a shopping mall, this bookstore offers a cozy 500 square meters on the 6th floor and a more expansive 1500 square meters on the 7th, catering to diverse tastes. Its standout feature is the atrium connecting both floors, with a staircase that not only facilitates movement but also adds to the store's aesthetic allure. This design element elevates the bookstore into a memorable landmark, inviting patrons to explore and enjoy its unique environment.
- Tags
- book store, intersecting, spatial continuity, atrium, staircase
- Production Technology
- In the innovative design of intersecting bookshelves suspended in mid-air, the integration of metal beams within each bookshelf is crucial for structural reinforcement. These beams impart essential strength and stability, allowing the shelves to intersect and mutually reinforce at their crossing points. This strategic design ensures that the bookshelves not only support their own weight and the weight of the books but also contribute to the overall stability and durability of the intersecting structure. As a result, this approach not only fulfills a functional requirement but also introduces a striking architectural feature, blending practicality with modern aesthetics to enhance any space with a touch of ingenuity and style.
- Design Challenge
- In the design concept of this bookstore, the intersecting bookshelves serve not merely as a design element but play a crucial role in enhancing the visual beauty of the space. The intercrossing of the shelves offers visitors a dynamic visual experience and simultaneously piques their interest in different genres and sections. However, to maintain a sense of unity visually, even when shelves are segmented by walls, a meticulous examination of various intersecting methods was necessary.
The design team created multiple models to analyze in detail the impact of the bookshelves' intersecting patterns on the space. Through this process, they understood how the arrangement, angle, and height of the shelves would affect the space's functionality and aesthetics, finding the optimal layout. They examined numerous configurations of intersecting bookshelves, analyzing the flow of the space, movement of sightlines, and convenience in detail. Moreover, even in areas where shelves were separated by walls, careful considerations were made to ensure that the shelves appeared visually and physically connected, maintaining design consistency while making the space feel open.
Ultimately, to maximize the actual spatial experience, VR technology was employed to validate the design. By using VR, the team could simulate the sensation of visitors walking through the space, allowing for fine-tuning the height and arrangement of shelves and the width of passageways to create a more comfortable environment. - Project Duration
- This project is located within a shopping mall in Yinchuan, China, and commenced in January 2022, embarking on a transformative journey to evolve a conventional space into a dynamic center of commerce and community. After thorough phases of planning, design, and construction, the project was completed in July 2023 and officially opened to the public.
- Operation Flow
- The bookstore's grand staircase and atrium extend beyond their primary roles, emerging as a pivotal landmark and an emblem of exquisite architectural and design prowess. They harness the interplay of light and shadow to unveil evolving beauty, enhanced by the infusion of natural light, which cultivates a serene yet invigorating ambiance for visitors.
Beyond facilitating movement, these spaces act as a confluence point for communal engagement and intellectual exchange, accommodating diverse events like conferences and lectures. In essence, they epitomize a community nexus, enriching cultural and intellectual life. - Research
- This bookstore goes beyond mere visual appeal, emphasizing a balance between commercial viability and aesthetic beauty. An area designed solely for taking pictures struggles to sustain commercially in the long term, hence the bookstore adopted a design that harmonizes functionality and aesthetics. Through this approach, the bookstore transcends being just a photo spot, evolving into a multifunctional space where visitors can enjoy reading, learning, socializing, and relaxing.
By striking a balance between commercial success and the allure of the space, the bookstore becomes a valuable resource for the local community and offers meaningful experiences to its visitors. It garners support not only from the local populace and visitors but also establishes a sustainable business model, contributing to the cultural development of the area. Such efforts were recognized, and the bookstore was chosen as the top cultural spot locally. This accolade proves that a space, which is not only beautiful but also practical and community-serving, holds genuine value for the community. - Inspiration
- The concept of intersection serves as a potent symbol where different paths or elements converge at a single point. The design of bookshelves intersecting in mid-air transcends mere physical form, creating a space where diverse ideas, cultures, and perspectives meet and influence each other. This intersection fosters the generation of new knowledge, dialogue between people from varied backgrounds, and cultural integration, thereby broadening the horizons of all participants.
- Image Credits
- Photo:Inter mountain