Sinan Books Poetry Store in Shanghai by local architecture studio Wutopia Lab, is a church-in-church concept created inside St. Nicholas, a 1932 Orthodox church.
With over 1000 poetry books in world’s different languages on sale, the store is almost sacred. Original facades and arches were kept alongside the unique layout of the space.
The studio followed existing decorative elements such as frescoes and monumental pillars to keep the spirituality in the interior. Complemented with a modern, sky-high construction of steel plates – servings as a display – and light strips, they create a truly pensive atmosphere. East and west parts of the church were transformed into modern cafes.
For this deep concept, the architects quote by an English 18th century poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley as a direction: “Poetry is connate with the origin of man.”
“Poetry is connate with the origin of man.”
