Wonderland

01 : 06 : 2016 Bookstores : XL-Muse : Interiors

Hangzhou, China – A new bookstore uses mirrors to create a whimsical space for shopping and reading.

  • The store is located in the Star Avenue shopping complex in the city’s Binjiang district
  • The space comprises two distinct sections – a light, mirrored space and a dark space for reading
Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China
Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China
Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China
Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China
Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China Zhongshuge-Hangzhou bookshop by XL-Muse, China

The enormous bookstore was designed by architects XL-Muse. Like many famous novels, it uses mirrors as a metaphor for another reality – one that can only be accessed through the power of reading.

A large, open doorway harnesses natural light and the bookstore interior is punctuated with mirrors and long reading benches to give the impression of being inside a forest.

The labyrinthian space houses a sanctuary at its centre that features floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with books, ornate reading lights and bleacher-style seating to enable readers to lose themselves in both their surroundings and their book.

The Big Picture

Innovative bricks-and-mortar retailers are competing against their online rivals by building a strong sense of destination and experience into their greatest asset – physical space. For more retail interiors inspiration check out our Retail Futures 2016 report here.

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