‘mumokuteki concept bookstore’ by LUO studio emerges as a distinctive bookshop in the underground space of a shopping mall in beijing. due to different area requirements of various tenants that could occupy the space in the future, the volume of the large commercial building was divided unevenly, and the walls and columns were separated and arranged disorderly. the overall interior design of the project is not conventional, as all strategies taken are aimed to return the architectural space to its original state.transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore spaceall images courtesy of jin weiqi

 

 

the equipment space was dominated by intricately mounted and dense pipelines, which posed a great challenge to the design. the key element was to present the authenticity of the space without adding wrapping elements to original spatial structures. instead of enveloping the cluttered ceiling pipes or finishing the columns or walls, LUO studio intended to showcase the unique character of the space. the white coating of walls and columns was removed, and the irregular edges and corners were fully polished, thereby revealing the aggregate’s textures in the concrete columns. furthermore, the original ceiling structures were retained and endowed with a gray tone, which is slightly darker than the walls and harmonizes with the entire space.transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

 

 

based on the client’s actual demands, shelves needed to be set against the walls and to be capable of adapting to changes. since the walls were built with non-bearing hollow blocks, the specific width and height of the shelves should be pondered carefully to concentrate the stress of the shelves on the ground, with the walls providing additional support. the architects decided to bring in and place metal shelves against the walls that feature a broad and long base, and the walls were endowed with many anchor points to offer more support. the metal shelves are structural furniture, which also functions as partitions that help to increase the variability and flexibility of the space.transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

 

 

the project conveys a free future lifestyle for urban people and puts forward the possibility of creating a flexible bookstore space that integrates with other functions. rotating screen walls were inserted under the beams as secondary structural components. as all the rotating walls are set vertical and perpendicular to the entrance interface, the whole space becomes open and transparent. however, when they are parallel to the entrance, the space is divided into multiple continuous yet independent parts, which enrich the sense of layering and depth of the space. those walls can rotate and be fixed freely, thus helping obtain a flexible and changeable space.transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

 

 

the rotating wall’s framework is riveted with angle steel profiles and is enveloped by transparent or translucent materials. transparent rotating screen walls are deployed at the entrance and the transition area leading to the rear zone for the continuity of the space, while translucent walls are set in other areas to enrich the space. holes are carved out on both sides of the surfaces based on module specifications, for allowing wooden sticks to pass through. in addition, different numbers of metal plates are flexibly set on the wooden bars at different heights, so as to meet the needs of hanging and placing books and cultural, creative products.transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

transparent rotating walls + exposed pipes assemble LUO studio's flexible bookstore space

 

project info:

 

name: mumokuteki concept bookstore by LUO studio

architects: LUO studio

design team: luo yujie, wang beilei, wang zhen, lu zhuojian, huang shangwan

construction firm: shinewood building technology (beijing) co., ltd.

location: no.18 yongrun road, haidian district, beijing

client: juran bookstore

area: 479.1 sqm (5156.9 sqft)

completion time: april 2021 

 

 

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edited by: christina petridou | designboom