Trippy wooden library is like a jungle gym of books

China knows a thing or two about building eye-catching libraries. Remember MVRDV’s otherworldly design in Tianjin? Here now, we have another stunning ode to books, this time from design studio Beijing Fenghemuchen Space Design.

The Yue Library is a library-meets-coffee shop-meets-cultural hub in Hangzhou, China. Though it’s technically many things in one, its design is focused squarely on the books, which artfully line timber shelves that stretch up to 33 feet high. Fenghemuchen split the soaring space into layers and nooks, allowing people to either sit together or hunker down on their own. A timer staircase leads from the ground floor to the top floor and doubles as a platform where people can sit and read.

The serene space plays with contrasts—dark slate floors pop next to the light wood of the shelves and stairs, meanwhile a timber lattice overlays the dark ceiling. The effect is equal parts earthy and ethereal. Or in other words, it’s the perfect place to get lost in the pages of a book.

Beijing Fenghemuchen Space Design

Beijing Fenghemuchen Space Design

Beijing Fenghemuchen Space Design