Shanghai Book City, often affectionately referred to as the ‘Crystal Palace’ by people online, has returned to life with a new identity after a two-year closure. The renovation led by Shanghai-based Wutopia Lab was successful in not just strengthening and transforming the building structure but also outlining a strategic shift towards becoming a vibrant cultural complex that transcends the traditional boundaries of a bookstore.

One of the primary challenges facing Shanghai Book City was the declining reading culture in China, where the number of readers outnumbered by non-readers. The studio’s renovation strategy recognised this and aimed not only to attract existing readers but also to entice those who do not already habitually engage with books. This meant thoughtfully blending architectural innovation, cultural integration and an acknowledgement of the changing dynamics of online activities.

The renovation project confronts the romanticised memories associated with the bookstore's closure at the end of 2021. The closure, initially misunderstood by some media outlets as permanent, led to a surge of readers paying tribute to what they perceived as the end of an era. However, the real challenge lay in dispelling this idealised collective memory and presenting a vision that seamlessly integrated history with a progressive transformation.

Led by Chinese architect Ting Yu, Wutopia Lab established a vision that extended beyond the physical structure of the bookstore. The Chinese architecture firm focussed on the spatial arrangement and façade design, while simultaneously redefining Shanghai Book City as a cultural complex with applied business and social scenes, centred around knowledge sharing. This resulted in a nuanced cultural complex, an abstract vertical city, aimed to grow organically from the roots of the old bookstore, using books as the foundation for a new city.

With a limit of 10 per cent structural changes to the existing building, the conditions for building this city were stringent. Fire safety regulations necessitated upgrades and commercial formats had to harmonise with the bookstore design without compromising operational efficiency. The goal was not just to ensure the survival of the bookstore but to contribute to the revival of Fuzhou Road as a cultural street.

The transformation started with the creation of a semi-open public cultural square on the ground floor, designed to engage citizens and revive the pedestrian character of Fuzhou Road. This was followed by the introduction of 'Book Mountain,' a three-dimensional platform within the building. This space, acting as a dynamic space for book launches, exhibitions and cultural events, became the first focal point in the pedestrian's line of sight, leading seamlessly to the vertical city within the bookstore.

Wutopia Lab creatively used the original architectural height differences and sidewalk design to enhance the intention of the Book Mountain, creating a terrace-like square. The red Book Mountain, visible from afar, invites readers to transition through escalators into the bookstore, which unfolds as a vertical city.

Light plays a crucial role in the renovation, addressing the darkness that characterises the higher floors. Three overlapping double-height atriums bring sunlight to the centre of Book Mountain, creating a vibrant and inviting urban space that unfolds vertically from the second to the seventh floor. The atriums serve as the square, auditorium and theatre of the city within the bookstore, fostering exploration and a casual, relaxed attitude towards life.

The bookshelves themselves become a significant architectural element, forming the façade of the city. A 10,000-metre-long bookshelf, accommodating over 4,70,000 books, not only exceeds the library's specified capacity but also creates a continuous façade of books along the street front. The seamless display is designed to make visitors feel like they are swimming in an ocean of books, reinforcing the idea of building a city with books.

Commerce is also seamlessly integrated into the city, with various businesses embedded in the continuous façade of books. The inclusive design philosophy extends to accessibility, with a commitment to accommodating differently-abled visitors. The disabled ramp is strategically placed at the main entrance and handrails are designed for easy grip and leverage. An escalator on the Book Mountain ensures comfortable and equal access for everyone.

The symbolic approach to the façade design wraps the original structure with perforated aluminium panels representing book spines. This is the exemplification of 'readable architecture.' The resulting ‘Crystal Palace’ effect, initially met with scepticism, has transformed Fuzhou Road into a radiant cultural heart, illuminating the city with a symbolic pattern that captures the lights of Shanghai.

Preservation has played a significant role in the renovation, with original reliefs and a 98-year-old marble pillar retained behind the Book Mountain. This mosaic epic, as described by the architects, is a testament to the intertwined histories, memories, literature and cultural narratives that the upgraded Shanghai Book City encapsulates.

Wutopia Lab's approach to the renovation of Shanghai Book City has not only revitalised a cultural landmark but also created a dynamic and inclusive space that beckons readers and non-readers alike. The successful transformation from a traditional bookstore into a multifaceted cultural complex shows successfully how innovative design and a deep understanding of the evolving dynamics of urban spaces can transform neighbourhoods and cities.

Project Details

Name: Renovation of Shanghai Book City
Location: Huangpu, China
Completion: 2023
Architects: Wutopia Lab
Design Team: YU Ting (Principal Architect), LI Peng, FENG Zixiang, ZHANG Haoran, WANG Qiuyan, FENG Yanyan, ZHANG
Early Project Manager: PU Shengrui
Late Project Manager: LI Hao
Project Architects: LV Jie, LIN Chen
Design Consultation: MEEM HOUSE
Lighting Consultant: ZHANG Chenlu, WEI Shiyu
Landscape Consultant: YUAN Yuan
Material Consultant: DING Ding, SUN Jing
Construction Drawing Design: Shanghai Sanyi Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
General Project Manager: GAO Dong
Architecture: ZHU Yumei, YE Xia, ZHANG Yu
Structure: HU Wenxiao
Mechanical and Electrical: MAO Yaqian, WANG Yiqin, XU Zhifeng, LIU Ning, YE Lin, SHI Jiaying
Interior: YU Bing, SHEN Rui, ZHANG Fang, YANG Yang
Landscape Design: ZHENG Zhicheng, WANG Can, GUO Yuqi, ZHANG Jin
Facade Detailing Unit: Shanghai Jieyu Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Facade Design: SU Xi, YE Kun
Soft Decoration Design: Jia Rui Architectural Design (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Soft Decoration Supplier: Suzhou Comfortable Furniture Co., Ltd.
Signage Unit: Shanghai Saichi Sign Design Engineering Co., Ltd.
Signage Supplier: Tanwai (Shanghai) Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.
Construction Unit: Shanghai Construction Fifth Building Group Co., Ltd.