Jetlag Books' latest shop nods to Soviet-style supply store in Beijing: A Blend of Past and Present
The opening of Jetlag Books' newest store in Beijing is a fascinating example of how architecture can pay homage to its historical context while creating a unique and contemporary space. This new bookshop, designed by Studio NOR, is situated along the city's Chang'an Avenue and occupies the site of a former service building to the neighbouring Friendship Store complex, a supply store built in 1972.
The design draws on the Soviet-style facade and Bauhaus-informed volumes of the Friendship Store, preserving the rough plastered facades and creating large steel overhangs to frame its openings. This approach results in a sense of continuity and unity between the two buildings, yet they remain distinctly different.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the design is the way it blends past stories into the present daily life. The bookshop is organised on an L-shaped plan that combines a service building from the 1970s and a steel-structured building added in the 2010s. Studio NOR re-envisioned the existing steel structure as a 'frontier' or 'display window' at the store's front, adorned with matching steel signage.
Inside, the bookshop is arranged around an 8.5-metre-long bar, which stitches together a book display area at one end of the space and a multi-functional area at the other. The display area features modular stainless steel bookshelves showcasing Jetlag Books' travel-themed collection, set off by glazed wall tiles and matt-black flooring.
The central bar area, described by Jetlag Books as 'the most visually dynamic space in the bookstore', is wrapped in dark green and brown tiles. Above the bar, Studio NOR transformed an existing opening into a deep skylight that draws daylight into the space. Steps added to either side of the counter account for differences in floor level across the site, while also distinguishing the bookstore's spaces.
At the bookshop's northern end, the multi-functional area serves as a seating area for the cafe. Moveable furniture allows the space to be used for exhibitions, events, and pop-up activities. Suspended ceilings expose the building's steel and concrete roofs, which have been paired with grey-toned concrete walls and terrazzo floors to echo the neighbouring Friendship Store.
The Jetlag Books Friendship Store by Studio NOR is the latest bookshop of Jetlag Books, which was founded in 2020 by designer Li Guanru and editor Lian Ziqiang. The design team also included Boyuan Jiang, Jingwen Wang, Shuo Yang, Jin Gan, Yichen Jin, and Chenxiao Yan.
What makes this project particularly fascinating is the way it seamlessly blends the past and present, creating a space that is both respectful of its historical context and innovative in its design. The preservation of the Soviet-style facade and the creation of a new, contemporary space within the same building is a testament to the power of architecture to bridge the gap between different eras.
In my opinion, this project raises a deeper question about the role of architecture in preserving and celebrating the past while also creating spaces that are relevant and engaging for the present. It is a reminder that architecture can be a powerful tool for storytelling and community building, and that the past and present can coexist in harmony.
