In the heart of Huai’an, China, the Zhongshuge bookstore transcends conventional architectural norms, seemingly tearing open a portal through space and time.
Designed by Shanghai-based firm X+Living, the space resembles a cosmic dreamscape with exaggerated three-dimensional forms that result in a panorama of concentric rings.
As if rising from a sea of stars, bookshelves recall large-scale astronomical instruments, casting ambient light that scatters throughout the interior. The irregular structures, crafted from black woodgrain and refined marble textures, represent the infinity of outerspace and mimic the governing laws of celestial motion.
“In order to make the theme of celestial bodies more realistic, we put a lot of thought into the lighting fixtures,” says Li Xiang, founder and chief designer of X+Living. “We designed a ring-shaped light strip to surround the spherical bookshelf, simulating the gorgeous ring of stars in space. The layout of each area is intentionally designed to create a sense of gravitating towards the center, giving people a feeling of being captured by the gravitational pull of celestial bodies.”
Shelving was also designed to engage in a dialogue with the sky, which is visible through the glass façade, and mirrored ceilings create the illusion of infinite space, further accentuating the surreal experience.
“Every detail hidden in the space is meant to create an environment where they can shake off their troubles and immerse themselves in the boundless world of books,” Xiang adds.
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