Humanistic Memory in the Center of Beijing
Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore, situated at the northern end of Wangfujing Street, was established in the 1980s. Serving as a distinctive international cultural exchange hub and China's largest foreign languages bookstore, it has played a crucial role in preserving the foreign language reading memories of countless individuals over the past half-century. However, in the era of the Internet, evolving reading habits have rendered the original bookstore program obsolete, unable to cater to the changing needs of readers. Additionally, the current structure faces a significant mismatch with its prime location and raises safety concerns due to structural issues.
Confronted with a range of intricate challenges and site limitations, OPEN has systematically reorganized and enhanced the bookstore's positioning, function, mode, and space. The reimagined bookstore will transcend its role as a mere book trading platform, evolving into a multifaceted cultural exchange center at the heart of Beijing.
In homage to history and the preservation of emotional memories, the architect has chosen to maintain the graceful sunshade grille element on the facade of the current building. However, there's a material upgrade to an anode alumina. The block wall and windows behind the grille will be replaced with high-quality glass curtain walls. The new building's facade exudes a sense of lightness and transparency, providing glimpses of the vibrant indoor spaces with engaging reading and activities to the pedestrian street.
Books are the "Seed" of Culture
The architect ingeniously incorporated a unique "seed" within the compact volume of the bookstore. From this "seed," a wealth of spatial experiences and diverse cultural activities sprout. The interior of the seed features a drum-shaped atrium that seamlessly connects the upper floors, with its circular surface serving as a screen for immersive multimedia projections. Suspended from the ground floor ceiling, the bottom of the seed adds an intriguing visual element. Encircling the seed is a spiral ascending ramp, fusing digital art with the display of book content, guiding readers on a captivating journey of walking and experiential discovery.
Centered around the "seed," the building seamlessly weaves together the traditional and modern, the local and international, culture and life, and art and technology. This convergence sets the stage for a pioneering approach to consumption and lifestyle. The transformation of the entire bookstore unfolds gradually, transitioning from an emphasis on the public character of urban space below to the creation of a sensory-rich experience intimately connected to the world of books above. Simultaneously, OPEN has enhanced the internal space through various optimizations, including more rational floor heights, a more concentrated circulation core, flexible and open horizontal spaces, and an increased ratio of comfortable atrium space.
From Bookstore to Urban Cultural Complex
Centered on the core of the bookstore, the design transcends the conventional boundaries between art, commerce, and lifestyle. By seamlessly integrating digital display technology, it crafts an immersive and visually stunning spatial experience, transforming the bookstore into a cultural complex that not only enriches the mind with literature but also leads to a more sophisticated lifestyle.
The revitalized Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore is set to transform from a traditional, single-function bookstore into an urban cultural complex. This revamped space will not only center around books but also host a diverse range of cultural exchange activities, becoming a hub for multifaceted cultural engagement.
Anticipating a future where bookstores encompass a broader array of media forms and adopt new functional planning, the spatial design and layout of the bookstore will be characterized by ample diversity and flexibility. This ensures that the space is well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the future.
