Platinum Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2023
Shenzhen Zhongshuge Bookstore
by Xiang Li
- A' Design Award 2023 Platinum Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: X+Living
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 2,340,337
- Verification code A41BA6D96A · Verify this award
About Shenzhen Zhongshuge Bookstore
Inspired by the rapid development and achievements of the project location, Shenzhen Zhongshuge is created to pay tribute to the countless pioneers in this immigrant city. The spiral bookshelf is used as a symbol to show the rapid development of history and arouse the thinking of visitors at the same time. The unconventional design approach to fuse commerce and art breaks the shackles of the monotonous attributes of a space bound to function, conveys the brand's values, brings a new and novel place gene to consumers' shopping experience.
Within the contemporary landscape of experiential retail architecture, Li Xiang's celebrated bookstore design emerges as a remarkable synthesis of functional commerce and transcendent spatial poetry, transforming the conventional act of browsing books into an immersive journey through what might be described as a cathedral consecrated to human knowledge and intellectual pursuit. The designer demonstrates exceptional command of geometric vocabulary, employing the gear as both structural armature and symbolic vehicle, its mechanical connotations of interconnected motion and perpetual progress resonating profoundly with the bookstore's role as a facilitator of ideas in circulation. The technical achievement evident in the seamless integration of custom millwork, precision lighting design, and mirror-finish flooring reveals sophisticated understanding of how material choices amplify spatial perception, the obsidian reflective plane effectively doubling the vertical dimension while creating an axis of symmetry that grounds the otherwise vertiginous spiral forms. Chromatically, the composition displays refined restraint, limiting the palette to white, deep red, and black in proportions that maximize visual impact while maintaining legibility and navigational clarity essential to retail function. The warm burgundy accents along gear teeth edges introduce organic warmth that tempers the potentially clinical precision of the white shelving, suggesting perhaps the warmth of bound leather volumes or the life-blood of ideas themselves. Light assumes architectural materiality here, with linear LED elements tracing curved trajectories that emphasize the sculptural dimensionality of each spiral tier while providing practical illumination for book selection. The composition invites contemplation of how spaces designed for commerce might simultaneously serve as vessels for wonder, asking viewers to consider whether the boundaries between retail environment and cultural institution might be productively dissolved.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The large window design allows for an unobstructed view of the exquisite interior, bringing a feast for the senses and mapping out a deep impression of the brand. The giant spiral staircase shaped bookshelf is transformed into an art installation, which not only carries the function but also carries the spirituality of the space. The design fuses commerce with art and breaks the shackles of the monotonous attributes of a space bound to function, bringing a new and novel place gene to consumers' shopping experience.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The floor area of the project is 1300 sqm.
- Tags
- Xiang Li, Zhongshuge, Interior Design, xliving, Bookstore, China
- Production Technology
- In this artistic space, a massive spiral staircase shaped bookshelf is lying on the ground, running in a curved trajectory through the entire concept area of the bookstore. When gazing from its front, a clock dial shaped cut out can be seen.Clock hand formed handrails conveying the sense that history is being pushed through time at a rapid pace. It serves as a functional bookshelf and a huge artistic installation, neutralizing a strong commercial connotation and enhancing the charm of the place.
- Design Challenge
- One of the challenges we face is the realization of the spiral staircase installation. Due to its complicated shape, the junctions between the installation and the space elevations and floor all have different sizes and angles. Therefore, during the design and modeling of the installation, careful calculation and adjustment are made to make sure that the perfect result can be achieved and the construction of the installation can go smoothly.
- Project Duration
- The project finished in November, 2021 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Operation Flow
- In the concept area, large glass facades dissolve the boundary and enhancing the expansiveness of the space. Allowing the artistic space to been appreciated from the outside and attracts attention of pedestrians. The continuous flowing contours of the display table are like water, outlining the curving lines of the interior traffic flow where customers can have a read of the popular books that are on display. Walking into the forum area, the symbolism of the ladder of wisdom is integrated with the bookshelves into a towering ladder, creating a sacred temple of knowledge. Providing readers a private and immersive reading experience.
- Research
- The design of Shenzhen Zhongshuge is highly inspired by the cultural and history background of the city Shenzhen. During the past 40 years as a Special Economic Zone, the city has made great achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. These achievements and history are the result of the sweat and hard work of countless pioneers and dreamers. The design of Shenzhen Zhongshuge hopes to pay tribute to the creators of history on this land and to become a symbol of Shenzhen itself.
- Inspiration
- The design is heavily inspired by the well known immigration history of the city, people came to the city to chase their dreams, and as time goes by, they became the creators of history on this land. The large public artworks by Anish Kapoor also inspired the designer to integrate art with commerce, and using artistic installations as the carrier for the concept of the space.
- Image Credits
- SFAP
Colors of Shenzhen Zhongshuge Bookstore
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