Tomoko Ikegai from Ikg Inc. has designed the YJY Maike Centre flagship bookstore in Xi’an, China, with the aim to motivate interaction between the growing population and visitors. The design is trying to integrate a few concepts together: the world heritage – Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the starting point of Silk Road, an ancient city with rich cultural heritage, the luxurious environment of Grand Hyatt in the upper floors, as well as the beautiful shape of the curved twin towers in the business center. The bookstore is designed to be a unique space where the East meets the West, people meet books, and cultures are integrated.
Themed with ‘Library and Gallery’, the design intends to combine the elements of the library for the pursuit of time quality with those of the gallery which provides an experience of culture and art in the space. What’s more, the palatial layout is adopted to create an ideal environment for inducing some creative interaction between customers and the bookstore. The space is designed with a human touch. It creates the feel like walking in a palace from one room to another, in order to achieve the affinity of “people-people” “people-book” “people-space” and to bring a sense of belonging for all guests to feel like staying at home.
On the 1st floor, a 10m high bookshelf stands in the spatial lobby. Stepping into the bookstore, guests will instantly have a keen sense of being surrounded by books. The floor near the spiral stair in the atrium is designed in bright color and the ceiling is glazed, which give people some differences from the surroundings. The lighting hanging in the empty space is like flying paper. The stage with an embedded stone map of the central Xi’an can be used for activities.
On the 2nd floor, bar counters are set up as a lounge in the hotel, providing a place for people working in the office building to communicate. A 5m x 0.5m book corridor brings an artistic experience just like gallery by reducing ceiling height, using deep color carpet and setting cabinet on the bookshelf. The quietness is created in the space, and the calmness is achieved. Artworks are seen everywhere, which are customized to local culture.
Here in the bookstore, you will experience the long history of China as the pride of the world. You can also relax yourself, relieving your stress, meditating and enjoying your life. It provides people a space which is beyond time and filled with classical culture and fun.
