mur mur lab designs the bookstore of the future in chinese water town

when challenged to design a bookstore in juli, changshu, mur mur lab examined the typology of this specific commercial space and how it has changed through context and time. the designers recalled reading halls in old libraries as bookstores, or on the other hand, a crowded commercial center whose hustling and bustling horde behaves differently. mur mur labs wondered what is the future of bookstores and how they would approach its design. 

image © WDI

located in the jiangnan water town,  jiangsu province, mur mur lab got the chance to design the bookstore of the future. according to the designers, the concept of a future bookstore focuses on the inspiration from the undetermined, hiding, and impermanence. 

image © WDI

the bookstore hides in a residential area of a chinese water town. it neighbors the tieqintongjian pagoda, a historical building of over 200 years, and one of the private book collection houses of qing dynasty. the bookstore lies between different spatial experiences, the south of the city, old houses, and the children of qingzhuangyuan lane. these places and moments become important analogies in the design process. 

image © WDI

the concept was triggered by the memories and experience. the designers uncovered a new roof under the old roof structure. sharing a similar visual language, both share a ridge, the inner and outer cornice and clear volume of both slopes. besides the comparability, it seemed to be completely unacquainted. leaving the obvious outline of geometrical rules behind, the new roof’s visual flow matched to the curve of the river outside. 

image © WDI

the eaves go up and down, some like a welcoming gesture, and some protect from the exterior. the circulation is designed to connect books and people together. even without people, the space itself will tell a story, in an old, silent, monologue way of sensing and feeling. the design is meant to flow into daily life. just like the future bookstore, it is a transmitter of imagination, bringing the experience of aesthetic, and books, to people.

image © hanzhi

image © hanzhi

project info:

project name: future bookstore

designers: mur mur lab

location: juli, changshu, jiangsu province, jiangnan water town, china

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom