Xinglong Lake Bookstore

To correspond with the development plan, the project aims at building up a lakeside bookstore as a new landmark of Chengdu, which could leverage the ecological value and the human spirit collectively. Taking this as an opportunity to reflect and embody the inimitable temperament and leisurely lifestyle of Chengdu, MUDA-Architects made efforts to convey the esteem of nature and add a new dimension to the future vision of “landscape integration and urban symbiosis”. The design concept originates from the idea of “a book falling from the sky”, and the shape of book is engaged with the architectural form to visualize the metaphor. The project starts with a plane foundation located on the shore of Xinglong Lake. The architecture is linearly expanded to conform with the site and connect with the lake. The curved roof surface is formed as a flipped page, which reinterprets the pitched roof of traditional Sichuan folk dwellings. It also cooperates with the water ripples to extend the wavy feature to the architecture and blend in the context. Titanium zinc panels are adopted and installed for the architectural surface to provide a fish scale texture and a visual connection with the shimmering lake. The entirety is constructed with steel frame, and interior space is presented in the most concise way without any excessive ornaments. The vertical steel columns are subtly concealed in the glass curtain wall and the solid wall with no traces. Aluminum square tubes finished with wood grain extrusion are installed for the grille ceiling as a smooth hyperbolic surface. The grille extends to the foot of the wall to stress the tension of the space. The glass curtain wall is partially subaqueous as the waterfront façade. The natural light penetrates through the water and streams into the interior space, which assists in creating an ambience of serenity. A row of cafe tables and chairs are furnished along the glass curtain wall to generate a waterfront reading area, which is functioned as a cafe as well. Visitors could take a seat and have an ambiguous conversation with the lapsing time and the nature. The design of meditation area takes account of self-talk and internal monologue. It is formed as a narrow corridor with small openings on the side wall, which allows the natural light to stream in with shadow cast. Meanwhile, the interior wall is installed with a slender horizontal opening at the level of people’s sight. It creates a space to ponder and catch a glimpse of natural environment, which aims to remind them of the relationship with the nature. Designed with both transparent glass wall and solid wall, the architecture introduces the natural elements into the interior space to correspond to the theme of “reading in nature”. MUDA-Architects uses architectural language to propose the relationship among people, books, spaces and nature. Visitors are expected to step into the architectural space and get immersed into the tranquility to develop a journey of self-discovery.