Introduction
Is this the world's wackiest bookstore? The defining feature in the newly opened Zhongshuge bookshop in the city of Shenzhen, China, is an enormous spiral staircase that twists around the shop – but customers can't climb it. The jaw-dropping snaking staircase, which even features an ornate bannister, in fact serves as a fantastical bookshelf.
Designer Background and Inspiration
Li Xiang of Shanghai-based X+Living studios designed both the shop and the bookshelf, which doubles as "a huge artistic installation". The designer explains: "In the process of researching the cultural background of this city, I realized that I could design a space which could become a symbol of Shenzhen itself as an inclusive and vibrant city of migrants."
Store Layout and Design Features
The bookshop, which opened in autumn, is divided into four separate spaces – a concept area, a forum area, a children's reading bay and a conference space. The design includes "levitating tables" with legs that blend into the black-tiled floor to create a surreal atmosphere.
The Spiral Staircase-Bookshelf
The staircase-bookshelf "runs in a curved trajectory through the entire concept area" and connects the entrance and exit. Visitors wander through the coils while selecting books.
Forum Area and Symbolic Elements
The designers integrated "the symbolism of the ladder of wisdom" into the forum area's bookshelves, creating an elegant structure that functions as a towering ladder and establishes an "intimate reading experience".
Children's Reading Space
The children's area features pastel colors and cartoonish shapes designed to evoke "colorful and joyful memories". Whimsical bookshelves shaped like a Ferris wheel and castle utilize "simple lines and graphics" with "childlike brushstrokes". A carousel-inspired central table invites children to engage with books.
Studio Background
Zhongshuge bookstores are a chain across China, founded by book publisher Jin Hao. X+Living studios has designed over 20 locations since 2010, creating spaces with spectacular interiors.
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