T-Book Station
image/text
Location: Suzhou
Type: Interior Architecture, Commercial Space
Area: 120 m²
Time of Design: 2024.1~2
Status: Built
Design: Xiaodi Sun
T-Book Station is a self-operated bookstore jointly curated by Book Direction and Suzhou Rail Transit. Located in the lobby of an office building near Huangtiandang Metro Station in Suzhou, it is an experiment of combining "travel" with "reading." The challenge of this project is to integrate a place related to reading into the fast-paced environment.
As a bookstore encountered by people on their daily commute, the traditional steady and quiet bookstore atmosphere is unsuitable. In the initial discussions of the design, we came to the idea of regarding the bookstore as a "convenience store for reading." A distinguished store atmosphere is created through the use of contemporary materials, structure, and shelving systems. We hope the freshness of the space can attract passers-by on their daily commute and promote public reading at large.
The organization of space is based on the layout of the rectangular site. The L-shaped solid walls on two sides of the site are heavy and unchangeable, so we installed bookshelves with roof elements against these walls to create a “reading corridor”. In the central area of the site, different display systems are designed to cater for different product types and to enrich visitors’ shopping experience, including book display, object display, poster boards, LED screens, storage rack. Along the West side of the site we placed benches against the windows, providing resting area next to the green landscape outside.
The "train station", as an architectural typology, provides a sheltered place for vehicles and pedestrians to stop. In our design, the “roof” is used as an architectural element which signifies a gesture of sheltering. Not unlike the space you will find at any train station, the roof here above the shelf invites visitors to step in by providing a sense of belonging. If you are tired walking through the books, you can always lean onto the guardrail - a kind of "standing chair" we call it- as you like.
The "roof" and the "standing chair" are two highlights of design elements in the space. They form a new kind of intimate space in the public environment; they are so simple yet relates to people's action and scale in this particular scenario. We think these architectural expression - rooted in users' behavior - is the key innovation in our project.
The store furniture such as bookshelves, benches, and tables are built with steel structure and wood panels. The paired stainless steel columns weaken the heaviness of the structure, bringing a delicate and light atmosphere to the place. The treatment of the original color of the materials and the exposed structure further alludes to the natural and undecorated quality of the space.
image/text
Location: Suzhou
Type: Interior Architecture, Commercial Space
Area: 120 m²
Time of Design: 2024.1~2
Status: Built
Design: Xiaodi Sun
T-Book Station is a self-operated bookstore jointly curated by Book Direction and Suzhou Rail Transit. Located in the lobby of an office building near Huangtiandang Metro Station in Suzhou, it is an experiment of combining "travel" with "reading." The challenge of this project is to integrate a place related to reading into the fast-paced environment.
As a bookstore encountered by people on their daily commute, the traditional steady and quiet bookstore atmosphere is unsuitable. In the initial discussions of the design, we came to the idea of regarding the bookstore as a "convenience store for reading." A distinguished store atmosphere is created through the use of contemporary materials, structure, and shelving systems. We hope the freshness of the space can attract passers-by on their daily commute and promote public reading at large.
The organization of space is based on the layout of the rectangular site. The L-shaped solid walls on two sides of the site are heavy and unchangeable, so we installed bookshelves with roof elements against these walls to create a “reading corridor”. In the central area of the site, different display systems are designed to cater for different product types and to enrich visitors’ shopping experience, including book display, object display, poster boards, LED screens, storage rack. Along the West side of the site we placed benches against the windows, providing resting area next to the green landscape outside.
The "train station", as an architectural typology, provides a sheltered place for vehicles and pedestrians to stop. In our design, the “roof” is used as an architectural element which signifies a gesture of sheltering. Not unlike the space you will find at any train station, the roof here above the shelf invites visitors to step in by providing a sense of belonging. If you are tired walking through the books, you can always lean onto the guardrail - a kind of "standing chair" we call it- as you like.
The "roof" and the "standing chair" are two highlights of design elements in the space. They form a new kind of intimate space in the public environment; they are so simple yet relates to people's action and scale in this particular scenario. We think these architectural expression - rooted in users' behavior - is the key innovation in our project.
The store furniture such as bookshelves, benches, and tables are built with steel structure and wood panels. The paired stainless steel columns weaken the heaviness of the structure, bringing a delicate and light atmosphere to the place. The treatment of the original color of the materials and the exposed structure further alludes to the natural and undecorated quality of the space.