Watch How XL-Muse Transformed a Chinese Store into a Tunnel Library

http://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/09/yangzhou-zhongshuge-bookshop-yangzhou-china-xl-muse-li-xiang-tunnel-books/
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A store in Shanghai, China is transformed into a tunnel filled with books by a popular architecture studio, XL Muse. After going through years of growth, the Hangzhou Zhongshuge bookstore made a significant upgrade to their store by replacing their floor with black mirrored flooring and putting arched shelves all the way to the ceiling, emulating the effect of a tunnel with water.

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The designers got their inspiration from the waterside where the bookshop is located, in Zhen Yuan, and the arched bridges in the area.

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XL-Muse said poets and literati visited and gathered in this area in the past; they used the bridges for culture and commerce’s guiding factor, and they want the bookstore to represent that bond between the books and humans all together.

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Instead of meeting at the top, the concave shelves are separated by a gap that resembles a lightning bolt right in the middle of the ceiling. This gap acts as a river as it reflects on the mirrored floor, leading customers all the way into the bookstore.

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The lobby of the bookstore ties up all the special effects of this 1,000 square meter space, as it features beautifully-lit reading rooms and village-themed areas for the kids. Also, the curve shape of the main reading room resembles pillars that inwardly curve from the ceiling.

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The shelves are made up of black metal stands combined with the traditional vertical style, arranging books in a mild slope, complementing the nice and smooth curve of the pillars. Wooden shelves are painted with variety of colors, while the lights on the ceiling are nicely arranged for a starry night sky. Children’s reading area of course, features combinations of things that fascinate kids, such as hot air balloon, clouds, towers and house shapes.

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In the age of smartphones and mobile internet, libraries still hold their charm over bookworms. And this tunnel of books is definitely a treat for book lovers.