It doesn’t take a lot to romanticise a book repository. Intelligent lighting design working in harmony with unending stacks of books is usually enough to be a refuge for bibliophiles. However, every once in a while there comes a design that will cater to more than just the sentimentality of book lovers. Designed by Atelier XI, the appropriately named Serpentine Bookhouse is a perfect example of such a structure, in Shenzhen, China.

Though this structure is primarily a store, it is referred to as a bookhouse. Within its structure, there is a reading room and a 24/7 public restroom catered towards the surrounding park's visitors and residents. Nestled amidst the greenery of the Dasha River Ecological Corridor in Shenzhen, the bookstore is a spiralling conch-shaped structure inspired by the traditions and folklore of fishermen along the Dasha River. However, the spiral which rises and wraps the structure is not superficial. The studio used this shape to release the building footprint and allow as much ground space as possible for greenery and human activity. The top portion of the spiralling form ends in a balcony opening towards the riverside park. This gives its visitors an opportunity to relax over the treetops.

The structure itself is crafted out of steel to create a framework. It uses Vierendeel trusses to determine the arc shape in the inner and outer circles, with oblique tension enforcement supporting the cantilever of the viewing balcony on the second floor. Accomplished from design to construction in less than one year, the off-site prefabrication of material and on-site assembly meant little to no disturbance to residents in close proximity to the site.

“The Serpentine Bookhouse embodies the urban revitalisation strategy that Shenzhen has been pursuing in recent years. In the goal of adding small-scale civic and cultural buildings to serve public life in the parks and public spaces, this strategy helps public projects land in a timely and accurate manner with a relatively small investment and relatively short construction time,” the studio shares.

The exterior of the structure features vertical grills that act as sunshade devices that also create a subtle play of light and shadow through the day, giving the interior spaces a playful character. A full sliding door at the balcony and operable windows at each reading step ensure ample natural ventilation, thus mitigating the need for air conditioning during autumn and winter months.

The interior spaces of the structure echo the exterior. The spaces are a series of stepped reading spaces winding around the trees in the atrium. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer panoramic views of the park while letting in ample daylight. The children’s reading spaces are stepped, resulting in varying ceiling heights. This lends depth to the space while providing the children with an opportunity to explore and satisfy their natural curiosity and cultivate their interest in independent learning. Open to them after school every day, the space, by design, encourages mobility and exploration in children.

“Since its opening, it regularly holds art exhibitions and reading clubs, thus becoming one of the favourite spots for urban dwellers and especially family visitors to escape from the stresses of urban life and to commune with nature and fellow cultural communities,” continues Atelier XI.

With a children’s park to its north, a 13-kilometre scenic path of the riparian corridor to its west, and residential communities on the east side, the Serpentine Bookhouse exists in an idyllic setting. This is reflective of the purpose bookstores serve in society today. In a fast-paced world where everyone is hustling towards something or running away from another thing, bookhouses are where time slows down. Where you get to immerse yourself in other worlds. They are havens of imagination and solitude.  Atelier XI has very cleverly harnessed the true character of bookstores to create something that is thoughtful, considered, and truly special.

Project Details

Name: Serpentine Bookhouse
Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
Site Area: N.A.
Built Up Area: 396 sq. m.
Year of completion: 2022
Design Firm: ATELIER XI
Design Team: Zhu Jing, Weng Cekai, Lin Ziya, Ye Fangnan, Lin Zebang, He Xiansen
Associate Architect: Zhonghang Guorun (Shenzhen) Construction Technology Development Co., Ltd.
Construction Company: Shenzhen Huachuang Architectural Decoration Co., Ltd.