n o t architects studio presents an undulating antiquarian bookshop in jimbocho

n o t architects studio unveils the undulating interior of its antiquarian bookshop in jimbocho, tokyo. the project is located along the street level within the district, known as tokyo’s center of used-book stores and publishing houses. the client had originally ran a secondhand western bookstore in the same building, and sought to reopen as a select store of secondhand books with four co-owners, each of whom specialize in various kinds of antiquarian books. the collection includes western books, japanese books, ukiyoe, hanging scrolls (kakeziku), and scrolls (makimono). with this range of product, the space is flexible and accommodates displays that can be easily reorganized.

images courtesy of n o t architects studio

the design of n o t architects studio‘s antiquarian bookshop in jimbocho sees the introduction of a single, curving wall. the wall meanders and extends outward, creating distinct zones across the store, wrapping the building and subtly reflecting the surrounding colors, products, people’s movements, and the weather. coated with a silver aluminum finish, this skin features a pattern of small holes along which shelving is arranged according to the needs of the moment. the shelves can be hung in pieces, mixing western and japanese books, connecting shelves to form a long shelf for scrolls, or removing shelves to hang hanging scrolls on the wall.

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project info:

project title: antiquarian bookshop

architecture: n o t architects studio

location: jimbocho, tokyo, japan

design team: tetsushi tominaga, lisa ono, aoi nahata

completion: 2021

photography: courtesy of n o t architects studio