Xixi Goldmye Bookstore by Atelier Wen’Arch: A Dialogue Between Literature and Landscape скачать в хорошем качестве

Xixi Goldmye Bookstore by Atelier Wen’Arch: A Dialogue Between Literature and Landscape

#ArchitecturalTransformation #AtelierWenArch #BookstoreDesign #AdaptiveReuse #ChineseArchitecture #DesignInNature #SustainableArchitecture #CulturalArchitecture At the threshold of Hangzhou’s Xixi National Wetland Park, the Xixi Goldmye Bookstore by Atelier Wen’Arch offers an architectural response to the intersection of culture, ecology, and memory. Situated within a 20-year-old U-shaped office building, the project exemplifies a sensitive transformation of a utilitarian structure into a public space that fosters both contemplation and civic engagement. Led by principal Shen Wen, Atelier Wen’Arch approached the renovation not merely as a design exercise, but as a reconstitution of spatial relationships—between inside and outside, structure and nature, object and void. The existing concrete frame was retained, yet stripped of its original enclosure to reveal the building’s latent spatial potential. Onto this skeletal grid, a secondary timber system was introduced, comprising glue-laminated pine beams that align with the six-meter structural rhythm. These beams, which function both structurally and as integrated service conduits, create a coherent and legible architectural language. Their warmth and tactility soften the industrial character of the concrete, while their alignment guides circulation and visual orientation throughout the space. One of the most compelling aspects of the design is its sectional articulation. In the southwest corner of the building, a vertical book tower ascends through multiple levels, forming an internal topography of stepped reading platforms. This space, shaped like a miniature amphitheatre, frames curated views of the wetlands beyond, positioning the act of reading as a meditative encounter with landscape. In contrast, the eastern edge of the building is carved away to form a sunken pavilion, where recessed seating brings readers into direct proximity with water. Covered by a zinc-clad pitched roof, this lowered volume extends the architecture into the realm of immersion—dissolving boundaries between building and terrain, occupation and observation. The structural and material detailing throughout the bookstore reinforces this thematic blurring. Custom-designed “book-beams,” fabricated from stainless steel and timber, serve simultaneously as bookshelves and load-bearing elements. These lightweight, open-framed components span up to six meters, delineating spatial zones while preserving transparency and flow. Their dual function exemplifies a design ethos that values integration over addition—where every element contributes structurally, visually, and experientially. Further nuances emerge in the treatment of light, edge, and enclosure. Atelier Wen’Arch employs suspended secondary eaves to filter daylight and modulate the building’s profile, referencing vernacular shading techniques from the Song Dynasty. Folding façades and operable windows punctuate the perimeter, creating a porous interface between interior life and the rhythms of the wetland environment. Within this framework, staggered benches, in-between spaces, and transitional thresholds invite moments of pause, reinforcing the bookstore’s role as a place of both gathering and retreat. Completed in early 2025 on a compressed timeline, the 880-square-meter bookstore redefines the potential of architectural reuse. It does not attempt to overwrite the building’s past, but rather situates it within a new narrative—one that acknowledges the cultural significance of reading while drawing meaning from the ecological specificity of the site. In doing so, the Xixi Goldmye Bookstore transcends its typology. It becomes a spatial essay, composed of timber, concrete, and reflection—offering visitors a place where literature and landscape are not merely adjacent, but intertwined. This film was made and produced by Yang Chen Follow Yang Chen on Instagram here:   / whyseeimage   Visit Yang Chen's website here: https://whyseeimage.com/ _______________________________________ mauudhi is a global video channel showcasing creators, creating the things that they are passionate about, which, in turn, can inspire those who aspire to create. Subscribe for regular videos spanning Art & Design, Architecture, Automotive, Fashion, Food, Music and more:    / mauudhi   If you like what we do, then you can also find us on Instagram:   / mauudhi