Imagine wandering through a busy commercial district in China and suddenly finding yourself face to face with what appears to be an enormous celestial machine that has burst through the building itself with its rings and geometric forms suspended dramatically in the air around you. What appears to look like an art installation, is actually a bookstore, and it is one of the most extraordinary retail spaces anywhere in the world. Know more about it on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).
The bookstore was conceived with the idea of a place where visitors could momentarily disengage from the mundane and rediscover something more expansive within themselves.
The Huai’an Zhongshuge Bookstore, located in Jiangsu Province, is the work of Li Xiang, founder of the acclaimed X+Living studio. Far removed from the conventional image of a bookshop comprising cosy armchairs, soft lighting and tidy shelves, this space operates on an entirely different level. In 2025, it was awarded the Platinum A’ Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design, one of the highest honours in the global design industry, and a recognition that the project represents something genuinely exceptional rather than merely visually striking.
The defining feature of the interior is a series of monumental three-dimensional structures inspired by astronomical instruments and the mechanics of celestial bodies.
The defining feature of the interior is a series of monumental three-dimensional structures inspired by astronomical instruments and the mechanics of celestial bodies. Concentric rings, sweeping arcs and complex geometric forms rise through the space, reimagined not as scientific apparatus but as bookshelves and display platforms. Books appear to float within these dramatic configurations, arranged in ways that suggest weightlessness and depth, as though the visitor has stepped into a library drifting somewhere between galaxies.
In 2025, it was awarded the Platinum A’ Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design, one of the highest honours in the global design industry, and a recognition that the project represents something genuinely exceptional rather than merely visually striking.
The bookstore was conceived with the idea of a place where visitors could momentarily disengage from the mundane and rediscover something more expansive within themselves. This ambition also connects to the broader identity of the Zhongshuge chain, which operates according to the principle of being a chain but not a replica, with each location developing its own distinct cultural character. While Zhongshuge operates numerous stores across China, no two tell the same story. The Huai'an branch chose to pursue something uncompromising and spectacular, a full commitment to science fiction aesthetics and cosmic wonder, and the results have attracted international attention as a consequence.
Image credit: X+Living Architecture and Interior Design