Chinese studio MUDA Architects has designed a lakeside bookshop in Chengdu featuring a roof that resembles an upturned book and windows that extend below the water level.
The architecture of the Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore aims to embody MUDA Architects' concept of the building as a visual representation of a book that has fallen from the sky.
The Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore was designed by MUDA Architects
The eye-catching design was shortlisted in the business building category at Dezeen Awards 2022, alongside projects including a giant greenhouse added to the roof of an agricultural market in Belgium.
Extending along the edge of the lake in the south of Chengdu, the rectangular structure's swooping roof echoes the outline of a nearby grassy slope and appears to float above the water. The building has a curved roof
"The curved roof surface is formed in shape of a flipped book, which reinterprets the pitched roof of Chengdu vernacular architecture," explained MUDA Architects.
"It also cooperates with the water ripples to extend the lake and blend in with the natural context."
The dramatic roof is covered with titanium-zinc panels that were chosen to create a texture reminiscent of fish scales shimmering in the sunlight.
Part of the building is submerged beneath water
The building's interior aims to immerse visitors in a tranquil environment that feels directly connected to the natural surroundings.
Its structural steel frame is concealed within the ...