Perforated metal sheets form the facade of this renovated bookshop in Shanghai, China, which local studio Wutopia Lab has filled with 10,000 metres of shelving.
Named Shanghai Book City, the 12,000-square-metre building has been overhauled to transform it from a traditional bookstore into a cultural hub and public landmark.
According to Wutopia Lab, it is hoped to reinvigorate the surrounding streets and encourage visitors to spend more time reading and less time on electronic devices.
Wutopia Lab has created Shanghai Book City in China
Shanghai Book City is now distinguished by its facade, which is covered in perforated aluminium panels positioned in a sawtooth arrangement. This design is intended to resemble books lined up spine-side out.
A lighting system behind the facade's aluminium panels also creates a twinkling effect as the light passes through the holes. This aims to set the store apart from neighbouring buildings on Shanghai's Fuzhou Road while evoking a bird's eye view of the city.
The renovated bookstore has been clad with perforated aluminium
"The perforated aluminium facade pattern is based on a bird's eye view of Shanghai at night, including the Huangpu district, the Bund, the Huangpu River and the Pudong district," project architect Chen Lin told Dezeen.
"The stars and dots are abstract pixels representing the lights in each household."
There is a covered entrance area
Harnessing the vast scale of the existing building, the bookstore's i...