Shanghai-based design agency XL-MUSE does everything from interiors to landscapes, and now they have dreamed up a reality-bending bookstore. The newly opened shop sits on Star Avenue in the Binjiang District in Hangzhou, China—a modern, rapidly developing area that consisted largely of farmland just a decade ago. In the name of innovation, design director Li Xiang spearheaded the project that transforms casual book shopping into a visceral experience. The design boasts details that distort how the shopper interprets the space by using illusive mirrors and unconventional floor plans.

The designer bookstore includes a multitiered reading area, a seemingly infinite study lounge, a futuristic gallery, and a playful children’s section. The atmosphere changes drastically from room to room, offering a different experience for nearly every reader. A venue as unique as this calls for curious shoppers looking to liven up their next bookstore visit.

The Theatrical Reading Room

The store is designed around its main attraction: an amphitheater-like reading room called Zhongshuge Hall. The atmospheric sunken reading area is encircled by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that are emphasized by a mirrored ceiling, giving the illusion that the collection of books never ends.

An Atmospheric Lounge

The dark wood and numerous sitting areas make the room feel both scholarly and cozy—while the endless bookshelves and eclectic lighting fixtures create an otherworldly atmosphere.

Return to Reality

There is a more conventional reading area that has the makings of any good study space, with a bounty of tables, chairs, and book-lined walls—but the ordinary doesn’t last for long.

Child's Play

The children’s section of the shop is a literary carnival brought to life. There are replicas of a roller coaster, merry-go-round, pirate ship, and Ferris wheel—all cleverly acting as shelves for the collection of children’s books. The access to knowledge and the incentive of fun makes this shop the perfect balance for children and adults alike.

Space for the Future

The Forest Gallery is a futuristic, almost sterile pod where books look more like artifacts on display than they do items for purchase. Tall pillars double as bookshelves and long lounge-like seating areas are dispersed throughout the room.