The PAGEONE Bookstore, located at Wuxi Park Station / llLab, was designed to integrate the unique culture of the Jiangnan canal lifestyle into the reading routine, taking advantage of Wuxi's location, one of the few cities where the Grand Beijing-Hangzhou Canal crosses the urban center.
For generations, local inhabitants have developed their community along the river, establishing a traditional way of life characteristic of the Jiangnan canal. The new bookstore aims to recreate an atmosphere reminiscent of a riverside book market, with waterside houses and stone alleys, where visitors can choose works from stalls and relax by the riverbank, enjoying the cool environment and the sound of the water.
Houses, alleys, banks, and the canal itself are the cultural elements of Wuxi that inspired the bookstore's design. The interior spaces were structured to capture and preserve the essence of Jiangnan, creating an immersive reading environment.
Inside, the bookstore features several small houses of different heights, which function as reading rooms, individual study areas, and cafes. The use of warm wood and natural materials lends a special warmth to the books, allowing readers to study or read under the natural light entering through the windows.
In addition to these internal structures, there is an outdoor area that simulates a street book market, with stalls displaying books and stationery. Near the facade, an open space with a double height offers a privileged view.
A podium on the ground floor, designed to resemble a riverbank, serves as a resting and reading area. The aqua-blue tiled floor near the window reflects sunlight, evoking the movement of the water surface, while small ceiling lights recall spring rain. The combination of books, music, textures, sunlight, and vegetation creates a riverside reading sanctuary.
The double-height space, flooded with natural light, is also the central point for gatherings and activities. Its layout is adaptable, allowing people to participate in events such as book launches, film screenings, and vinyl concerts, using stairs and podium seating. The civic dynamism of the river extends into the bookstore.
A staircase leads to the upper floor, where the reading experience continues in a more diverse environment, housing the cafe area, gift and magazine section, vinyl space, and isolated study rooms. Outside the entrance, a wooded park contributes its natural coolness to the interior.
While time by the water in Jiangnan passes slowly, the traditional buildings of Nanchang Street, although restored, tend to attract mainly tourists and popular shops. PAGEONE Wuxi was specifically conceived to revive the old local vitality, proposing a genuinely unique daily reading space for the city.