Ferrying Compound Bookstore

Xixi Quan, Kau Chan and Junming Chen's Ferrying Compound Bookstore presents a masterfully orchestrated interior space where traditional watercraft assume commanding positions within a contemporary retail environment, creating a striking dialogue between heritage craftsmanship and modern architectural intervention. The composition establishes its primary focal point through two substantial wooden vessels positioned in the foreground and middle ground, their dark umber hulls rendered with the rich patina of aged timber, displaying the characteristic curves and joinery of traditional boat construction elevated on crossed wooden supports. The spatial architecture reveals a sophisticated interplay between zones demarcated by material and chromatic differentiation: to the left, pristine white walls frame a generous pointed arch opening that creates visual depth through successive spatial layers, revealing bookshelves arranged with chromatic organization in the illuminated distance. The right portion of the composition commands attention through a vibrant vermillion wall surface bearing a pixelated mythological figure rendered in warm earth tones transitioning to cream and gold, accompanied by calligraphic elements in white against a dark ground. The ceiling treatment introduces industrial materiality through an expansive diamond-pattern mesh suspended beneath exposed structural elements, creating a rhythmic geometric counterpoint to the organic curves below. Lighting achieves careful balance between recessed spotlights creating focused pools of illumination and ambient glow filtering through the architectural openings. The flooring transitions from warm terracotta brick patterns in the foreground to lighter tile in the mid-ground, establishing territorial boundaries while maintaining visual flow. Display surfaces within the vessels present curated arrangements of merchandise including vessels, papers, and decorative objects, transforming the boats into functional retail fixtures. The overall chromatic harmony operates through a complementary relationship between the warm red-orange wall and the cool neutrality of the white architectural elements, while the wooden boats provide bridging earth tones that unify the palette.

The contrast between tradition and modernity makes this bookstore attractive. The first floor uses the traditional water town block as the logic of spatial organization: the river connects the space of books, commodities, and salon, including small bridges, houses, miniature squares, Chinese octagonal pavilions, ferry crossings, and mythical beasts Qilin. But, the second floor is composed of contemporary technological elements such as parametric subway trains, AR experience, and modern tea drinks.