Cross

Multifunctional Bookstore for MUST Design Digital Construction Laboratory

It is a compound bookstore that provides comfortable reading and salon activities space for the public. It's funded by the government and with a low construction budget. Primary warehouse-style space in 70 percent of the bookstore is created to save money. In the other 30 percent of the area, the parametric plug-in grasshopper is used to generate countless variations of Chinese moon gates and western arches, combined into a space partition device to create a powerful space for accessibility, regularity, decoration logic, and visual impact.

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Parametric Cross by Xixi Quan Junming Chen and Kau Chan

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Multifunctional Bookstore by Xixi Quan Junming Chen and Kau Chan

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Xixi Quan Junming Chen and Kau Chan Parametric Cross

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Xixi Quan Junming Chen and Kau Chan Multifunctional Bookstore

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Cross Multifunctional Bookstore Press Releases

For Cross, we offer press releases in multiple languages, including: English.

Cross Multifunctional Bookstore Media Articles

Ready-to-feature articles on Cross are available in these languages: Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Hindi, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Dutch, for your convenience.

Unique Properties

This compound bookstore provides a place for comfortable reading and salon activities in public. It’s funded by the government and with low construction budget. The bookstore’s aesthetics are Chinese and Western, modern and classical, and simple and colorful. The "Moon Gate and Arch" Space partition installation not only means no cultural ramparts between human cultures but also encourages readers to open their minds and approach the truth infinitely. Citizens voted it the champion among 13 "My Favorite Bookstores of 2022".

Tags

Chinese Moon Gate, Western Arch, Shape and Color Transition, Parameterized generated the installation, The Minimalist Expression of Chinese and Western Culture Mixing, Ferry the Public to The Other Side of Wisdom

Production Technology

Due to the low construction budget, a virtual warehouse-like space was created by the designer in 70% of the area to save money. Yet, the other 30% used the parametric plugin Grasshopper to generate numerous changing Chinese Moon Gates and Western Arches. They combine into a large space partition installation to create a solid spatial logic and visual impact for spatial accessibility and regularity. The structure of perforated aluminum panels was prefabricated at the factory to shorten the project time and simplify the site construction craft.

Design Challenge

The most challenging parts of the project are: First, find out the deep connection between the abstract cultural symbols of Zhongshan City and the connotation of the verb Cross brand; Then, solve the contradiction between the low-cost budget and the realization of creative ideas. Finally, the design used controllable parametric data extraction and factory-prefabricated cheap perforated aluminum plate to realize "Moon Gate-Arch" Space partition installation, making it not only a partition or boundary but also corridors or tunnels.

Project Duration

The project is located in a shopping mall in the center of Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China. The city is a hometown of overseas Chinese and the birthplace of China's modern democratic revolution. The project started in March 2021 and finished in July 2021. The bookstore officially opened in August 2021.

Operation Flow

The colorful "Moon Gate and Arch" define different functional spaces and guide people to find where the desired product or book is located quickly. Such as salon space, coffee space, study space, leisure space, and other places. Color corresponds to a spatial function, and this rule strengthens the reader's memory of the spatial logic, making it difficult to get lost. The rainbow-like gradient color gives a soft and clean visual enjoyment.

Research

Research background: In the age of Internet addiction, the amount of paper book reading by the Chinese public has dropped dramatically, and the government subsidizes bookstores to guide the public to read and brighten their wisdom. They hope that the bookstore can interpret the urban culture of Zhongshan City. To design a famous bookstore, a low-cost budget and time are the biggest challenges. Objective: Multiple functions, strong spatial identifiability, short construction period, unique design aesthetics and connotation, precise control of construction process by parametric software, low cost. Methodology: Research the history and culture of the city where the bookstore is located, interviews with target groups, and data analysis of user needs. The data of the analysis results are used as the parametric design variables to generate the “Moon Gate and Arch” space partition installation. Tools for data collection and use: SPSS. Participants or experiments: 1. What is the cultural impression of Zhongshan in different age groups? 2. Target user category percentage analysis. 3. An analysis of the differences in the demands of the target user groups for functions. 4. An analysis of aesthetics differences among target user groups. 5. An analysis of the philosophical thinking differences among target user groups. The design: Based on the data from the analysis above, the parametric plugin Grasshopper calculated a changing system, “Moon Gate and Arch” to match the spatial functions, spans, and areas and forms the spatial logic and identifiability with the transition of colors. Opinion and influence: The composite function of contemporary aesthetics bookstores not only provide the public with space for social interaction, reading, activities, coffee, and exhibition in the city but also serve as the medium and contact point for disseminating urban cultural impression.

Inspiration

"Cross" here is a verb. In the Chinese context, it means "ferry" and "transition." In Mahayana Buddhism, "cross" means Dharma ferries all living beings to the other side of the river of wisdom. So does the bookstore. "Transition" is interpreted by the "Moon Gate and Arch" Space partition installation with color and shape gradients. Because the Chinese classical Moon Gate and the Arch from the West are the abstract visual symbols of Zhongshan city, it is a hometown of overseas Chinese where Chinese and Western cultures blend.

Project Overview

Cross Multifunctional Bookstore has been a Silver winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Image Credits

For design images and photos please credit Xixi Quan, Junming Chen and Kau Chan.

Silver Recognition

Xixi Quan, Junming Chen and Kau Chan was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Cross Multifunctional Bookstore.

Xixi Quan, Junming Chen and Kau Chan Press Releases

Our press releases on Xixi Quan, Junming Chen and Kau Chan and their work are made freely available for press members looking to add depth to their content. Now available: Immediate access to 1 press releases for journalists.

Introducing "Cross" - A Multifunctional Bookstore Designed by Xixi Quan, Junming Chen and Kau Chan

Celebrating the Fusion of Cultures and Wisdom in the Heart of Zhongshan City

Xixi Quan, Junming Chen and Kau Chan Newsroom

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