mobile bookshelf with mountain-shaped fixtures invites children to explore independently

tsuranari bookshelf by border design architects

Border design architects redefines the traditional form of a bookshelf with Tsuranari. Flipped on its side and with a triangular design, the wooden shelf adopts an intuitive approach to picture books and communication, arranging them within an easily reachable distance to create conditions for children to independently engage with books through touch. Designed for a mobile picture book store, Tsuranari is fixed with bolts and can be easily loaded in and out of vehicles, and easily assembled or disassembled.  

For efficient transportation, showcasing, and exploration, the architects conceived oblique sides produced by connecting mountain-shaped fixtures. The connected parts along these sides are for spine-facing display, while the free parts are for cover-facing display, inviting observers to approach the books with a slanted view.

the bookshelf encourages conversation and engagement | all images courtesy of border design architects

fostering touch and communication through form

With Tsuranari, border design architects embodies the mobile bookshop’s philosophy: ‘Looking, listening, reading. And also touching. That’s what picture books are.’ Both children and adults can easily search for titles at an angle, crouch down, and run their hands along the shelves to select their pick. This eliminates differences in visibility due to height that is produced by conventional bookshelves where books are stacked vertically; instead, children can take books by themselves without assistance.

Further, by arranging the spines alternately in their designated section, the architects make it possible to eliminate the front and back states which are otherwise difficult to separate in traditional bookshelves. This enables communication through the object while fostering relations with picture books to develop even further.

Tsuranari redefines the traditional bookshelf form

‘We believed that in order to maximize the children coming into contact with the books, it was important to remove the action of asking an adult to pick up a book and show it to them. It is the children who see, are intrigued, take, read, and put away. This series of acts must be governed by the children’s senses and emotions, otherwise they will have fewer encounters with picture books,’ notes border design architects.

regardless of age, children can crouch down and approach picture books instinctively

a more independent and intuitive experience

shelf-inserted and face-out picture books pop into view at the same time

colored triangular stopper for facing out and matching the picture book

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project info:

name: Tsuranari
designer: border design architects

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom