A Bookstore Born from the Interaction between Architecture and a Love for Books

The bookstore chain Zhongshuge, with locations in various Chinese cities, isn’t new to creating spaces which are enjoyed for the quality of the books but also for the unusual architectural aesthetics, suspended between the real and the surreal. The space in Shanghai - located in the area of Minhang - is designed around dark brown tones, a colour typical of the chain of bookstores, and welcomes visitors, slowly revealing its peculiarities. Through its wooden arches, the principal salon is topped by a mirrored ceiling which amplifies the effect of surprise as well as the size of the space, giving the sensation to readers, who can sit at lateral tables, of being in a time capsule. Another area, meanwhile, is dominated by “islands” whose lighting makes them seem suspended in mid-air. Created by X+LIVING, an architectural studio founded by China’s Li Xiang, the bookstore is a refuge from chaotic city life but also a gateway to a world governed by imagination and fantasy, inspired by the surreal and impossible architecture of Escher.