Situated in a historic building on the iconic banks of Ningbo’s Yongjiang River, Nordic Books is a newly conceived experiential retail destination, dedicated to showcasing Nordic design, publications, and lifestyle. In conceptualizing the four-story premise, Yatofu Creatives sought to evoke the soft contemporary feel of Nordic design, while preserving traces of the building’s historical past. This honest approach expands upon the foundation of the project’s core purpose: to promote the authentic values behind Nordic lifestyle and to showcase an expanded understanding to an international audience.
The programming of Nordic Books is separated by the different floors but comes together to form a cohesive and immersive visiting experience. Upon entering Nordic Books, visitors are first welcomed by the Feitan Dessert Bar on the first floor, which features a contrasting material palette of muted lime green micro-cement against the more modern and dramatic blackened steel. The bar itself is hooded by a cascade of greenery, emphasizing the blurring of boundaries created by the indoor-outdoor window seats. Towards the back of the space, a sculptural staircase sweeps through the four-floor building. The second floor features an open gallery space and showroom, decked fully in a dark chocolate oak parquet and softly colored micro-cement walls. The space is kept neutral and inviting while punctuated by the organic textures in the exposed brick wall and natural granite display volumes.
The third floor is comprised of a retail space, furnished with a range of sculptural display structures. Apart from the main open retail area this floor also features two focus sections to display individual collections. The first section is clad in full dark charcoal, with blackened steel shelves. The second section rises in the center of the room as an enclosed rotunda with a contrasting clay-colored interior. On the top floor sits the versatile event and co-working space where workshops, lectures and other cultural events often take place. This floor is defined by the subdued mint green hue of the ceiling and walls, combined with a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows that bask the space in natural light.
Material textures can often be artifacts of time. A combination of preserved original surfaces, organic materials, and finishes that show the textural strokes of manual application, come together to form a story that evokes the integration of time and people. Every aspect of Nordic Books is designed to reinforce and enrich the customers’ understanding of Nordic design and lifestyle; from the soft yet vibrant color palette of each individual floor, to the material-rich fixtures that are custom-designed for the space. We envisioned Nordic Books as a bridge between Nordic creatives and the Chinese audience, where dialogues about culture and values can be shared.
Material Used :
- Stones, tiles, terrazzo, micro-cement wall finish, oak parquet flooring, antiqued mirror, blackened metal
FF&E:
1. Pendant light - menu
2. Side table - &Tradition
3. Tables and armchair - Grado Design Tables,
4. Chairs: Infiniti and Hay
5. Showroom furniture - Ziinlife
