Project
Tianjin Zhongshuge bookstore
Category
Best Implemented Project of Public Building or Facility
About the project (provided by the applicant)
Blending Italian red brick heritage with innovation, the design features 400K custom bricks, each meticulously shaped and hand-cut to transcend traditional formalism. Inspired by blinds, gaps between bricks filter light into rhythmic shadows, crafting virtual-real interplay. Brickwork transitions from dense to airy, symbolizing knowledge’s fluidity.
Trapezoidal bricks form undulating shelves, harmonizing with dark-blue steel waves echoing Tianjin’s maritime spirit. Steel’s industrial coolness contrasts red brick’s warmth, merging modernity with tradition. Ascending steps morph into shelves, metaphorizing humanity’s intellectual pursuit.
Minimalist assembly—brick-by-brick layering, progressive steel—mirrors “fool’s determination,” where meticulous craft builds grandeur. Each brick, unique in size and mold, demands artisan collaboration, redefining material expression. Functional integration—shelves guiding seating, circulation—embodies design coherence.
Location
Tianjin, China
Project implementation year
2024
Project website
http://www.xl-muse.com/html/en/index.php?ac=article&at=read&did=374
Extra visual materials
https://architizer.com/projects/tianjin-zhongshuge/
Applicant
Li Xiang
Li Xiang, who founded X+Living Architecture and Interior Design in 2011 and later crossed into the field of interior design. She crafts sensory escape points for the general public and infuse the brands she serves with design creativity that confers a competitive edge. In 2020, she was the only Chinese designer selected by Fast Company in the «Most Creative People in Business». In 2021, she became the only Chinese designer listed in the PMI Future 50.
Author of the project
Li Xiang
Photo
SFAP
Status of the project
Implemented
