Fangsuo Bookstore by Chu Chih-Kang Space Design in Chengdu

Taiwanese firm, Chu Chih-Kang Space Design designed the Fangsuo Bookstore in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. An incredibly eye-catching bookstore based on Buddhist principles, which also won the ICONIC AWARDS Best of Best 2015.



A bookstore as architecture that collects and shares knowledge and where you can just sit back, relax and take time for contemplation.  This was the dream of Chu Chih-Kang, Taiwanese designer and founder of Chu Chih-Kang Space Design, a dream that he was able to make true for the Fangsuo Bookstore in Chengdu, capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan, with a population of more than 4.5 million.



Chu Chih-Kang proposes the idea of a “Secret Scripture Library” like the ones located in or under Buddhist temples, a concept that is an extension of the Mandarin Chinese term “stored wisdom”. And one that the clients immediately took to heart, an idea that became a real place in 14 months.



In the Cheng Du – Fangsuo Bookstore we can see research around the concept of knowledge and books that escalates into an atmosphere referencing old temples and their sanctity. Chu starts from the written world, the foundations for the world as we know it and takes visitors on a journey towards an unknown future, through the cosmic allusion he adopts in his designs. 





The ground floor entrance is an arched sculpture that looks a bit like a meteor, the tunnel-like entry is deliberately narrow in order to heighten the sensation of openness - both physical and mental - when you emerge into the large, double height underground space - the heart of the bookstore - a treasure chest where you can leave the everyday confusion behind.





Chu Chih-Kang also responds to his exploration of the context and the history of Chengdu, to ensure that the bookstore actively engages with users and meets their needs. So the designer discovered the city's glorious past, with one of Buddhism's most famous monks living here during the Tang dynasty (from 618 to 907) as well as the connection of the people of Sichuan with “Wo” (nest, home) and “Bai” (design).



With the Fangsuo Bookstore, designer Chu Chih-Kang has not only made his dream of an enchanted bookstore come true, he also worked according to the Buddhist motto of “nothing is fixed” to create first of all an emotional space first, and then an architectural space. An eye-catching design that earned him both the ICONIC AWARDS Best of Best 2015 and a nomination for the 2016 German Design Awards.

Christiane Bürklein

Design Company: CHU CHIH-KANG SPACE DESIGN Co., Ltd.
Designer: Chu Chih-Kang
Location: Chengdu Taikoo Li  (No.8, Middle Section of Shamaojie, Chunxi Road, Jingjiang District ), Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Year: Oct. 2013 – Feb. 2015 
Collaborators: Fangsuo Culture Development Co., Ltd. 
Area: 5508 square meteres
Material: Concrete, terrazzo, copper, black steel
Website: www.kang.com.tw
Photo Credits: Chu Chih-Kang (name of photo start with “Chu”) / Li Guo-Min ( name of photo start with “Li”)
Participants: Jia(surname) Lu, Li(surname) He, Li(surname) Liu-Zhen