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