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The 1,200 square metre. Reading Mi, Zhuhai. for Shenzhen Friendship Book City Co., Ltd., was completed in Jan 2025. Photographer: POPO VISION, GD Media.
“Reading Mi覔” was established in 1991 in China and now a highly regarded chain bookstore brand. As a unique cultural space, each bookstore is not merely a place for selling books; rather, it offers customers a rich experience through thoughtfully designed multifunctional areas. It targets at middle-class customers and is dedicated to creating a warm and culturally vibrant environment for families.
The brand name “Mi覔” is derived from an ancient Chinese word that signifies “exploration and seeking.” Within the rich context of Chinese culture, the concept of “Mi” not only embodies wisdom but also contains profound philosophical significance about life. The blank spaces and the unseen often reveal the most authentic existence, harbouring deep tranquillity, which lies at the core of the brand identity.
The latest store is located in the atrium of a new shopping mall in Zhuhai, China, aiming to create a tranquil haven amidst the bustling environment. With the design concept of “Exploring the Garden of Knowledge,” the bookstore employs a “biophilic” design approach, combining the act of turning pages with natural compositional elements to create a harmonious visual experience.
The entire retail space has been meticulously designed to offer varying degrees of openness and privacy, allowing customers to find a spiritual refuge. The layout is flexible and dynamic, featuring both open areas suitable for socializing and small corners ideal for solitary reflection, catering to the diverse needs of different customers.
The design team is dedicated to creating an inspiring, sensory-rich space that provides a therapeutic effect for the soul, reinforcing the irreplaceability of physical bookstores in the digital age. The bookstore is not merely a place to purchase books; it is an immersive environment where visitors can freely explore, read, learn, and relax. Whether savouring a book in solitude or participating in various cultural activities, customers can experience the nourishment of knowledge and the tranquillity of the soul, truly embodying the brand’s mission of “exploration and seeking.”
Entrance. The entrance area marks the beginning of a journey for customers to purify their souls, providing them with a space for contemplation. Here, the spacious and bright environment gradually calms people’s mood, as if hinting that an inner exploration journey is about to commence. The interwoven wooden slats on the ceiling serves as a visual cue for the biophilic concept, creating a natural and warm atmosphere that allows customers to feel an intimate connection with nature from the moment they enter.
The design of the wooden veneer shelves is not only aesthetically pleasing but also complements the overall beige tones of the space, forming a warm and comfortable backdrop. This colour scheme infuses each area of the bookstore with a gentle ambiance, allowing customers to feel relaxed and at ease while browsing the books. The combination of beige floor tiles and wooden elements creates a harmonious visual effect, further enhancing the comfort of the space.
In this entrance area, customers are not just entering a bookstore; they are embarking on a journey of self-exploration. Every design detail reflects a respect for nature and a commitment to enhancing the customer experience, creating an environment that invites people to linger, reflect, and enjoy. Whether they are first-time visitors or old friends, everyone can find their own moment of tranquillity and contemplation in this space.
Retail Zone. The curved, self-illuminating wall units create a comprehensive retail zone for books, gifts, and stationery, fostering a warm and human-centric environment for product display. This design not only enhances the visibility of the products but also establishes a friendly atmosphere with soft lighting, allowing customers to feel relaxed and at ease while browsing. The curved walls echo the overall fluidity of the space, drawing customers’ attention and encouraging them to linger and explore more items.
In this area, abstract flower-shaped ceiling features replace traditional signage and wayfinding systems, adding an artistic touch. The flower shapes symbolize vitality and inspiration, merging the concepts of knowledge and creativity.
Additionally, various semi-open nodes and reading corners provide customers with a private and tranquil knowledge exploration experience. These designs delineate different reading spaces, catering to both individual quiet needs and facilitating interaction and communication among friends. Customers can freely browse through books, enjoy moments of solitary reflection, or share insights about a particular book with others.
Kids & Event Zone. The oval-shaped independent kid’s and event zone provides families with an imaginative space for reading and activities, becoming a paradise for kids to explore knowledge and creativity. The design aims to stimulate their curiosity and creativity, allowing each little one to find their own joy here. Open bookshelves are filled with a colourful array of picture books suitable for various age groups, ranging from classic fairy tales to modern storybooks, capturing kid’s attention and encouraging them to actively choose and read.
In this playful space, a multifunctional mini theatre equipped with theatrical lighting offers kids a platform for interactive engagement, supporting storytelling and dramatic performances. This area is not only an extension of reading but also a stage for them to express themselves. Parents can join their kids in narrating stories or enjoy their performances, enhancing interaction and communication between parents and kids. Regularly scheduled story times and drama performances provide invaluable opportunities for families to learn together, encouraging parent-child reading and interaction and fostering a warm and harmonious family atmosphere.
Café Zone. The nature-inspired experience continues in the café zone of the two-story atrium space, which has become a tranquil corner harmoniously coexisting with nature. The design of the coffee area features a pair of 8-meter-high column bookshelves as the focal point, resembling two towering trees rooted in this space. These bookshelves not only hold a wealth of books but also symbolize the nourishment and growth of knowledge, inviting customers to pause for a closer read and enjoy the pleasure brought by the aroma of books.
All customers are covered under the interwoven ceiling structure that branches out from these distinctive columns, making them feel embraced by a forest. The ceiling structure is inspired by the intertwining branches of nature, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that feels relaxed and comfortable.
The big-step seating area provides an excellent place for relaxation, with adjacent full-height curtain wall allows sunlight to flood in, creating a bright and comfortable environment where customers can savor the “slow time” that changes with day and night. In this space, each reader becomes a unique part of the scenery, their figures intermingling with books, coffee, and natural light, forming a vivid tapestry of life.
The design scheme fully embodies the pursuit of humanistic care, returning to the user’s experience and emphasizing the relationship between people and space, fulfilling the concept of “Mi.” This area is not just a place to enjoy beverages; it is a social platform that can gather thoughts and spark inspiration. It provides customers with an environment to relax and express themselves freely.
Bookstore is not only a testament to the soul of the city but also a sanctuary for cultural growth. This metaphor-rich space deeply explores the relationship between place, literature, and the spirit, becoming a refuge for the human soul.
This bookstore ignites the motivation to learn and encourages reflection and interaction. It not only provides a wealth of reading resources but also serves as a haven for reducing stress, allowing people to find tranquillity amidst the chaos and enjoy moments of peace. The relaxing experience contributes to mental well-being while promoting physical and emotional healing.
