Referencing classical Chinese gardening techniques, each dramatic space in the X+Living-designed Beijing Zhongshuge Lafayette Store is devised to encourage consumers to explore. Arches nest and intersect to form bookshelves that unfold to unveil the depth of the space, enhanced by ladders and mirrored surfaces that create a surreal sensory impact.

With glimpses of book-inspired wallpaper, these moon gates (a traditional circular opening in Chinese gardens) double as corridors that lead to an imagined bamboo grove with wooden branches hanging from the ceiling and the secluded study hall framed by glowing lamp boxes. Elsewhere, a whimsical children’s section mimics a cartoon with an exaggerated color and material palette, including wavy lines that recall a river. “I decided to create layers and misalignment to make the moon gate conform to modern aesthetics, allowing readers to appreciate traditional culture,” says Xi Liang, founder of the Shanghai-based firm.

This article originally appeared in HD’s August 2020 issue.