Dive into reading: Inside the underwater bookstore where you can read alongside fish

    Located on Xinglong Lake in the Chinese city of Chengdu, this bookstore blends literature, art, and nature. Its glass facade extends one meter below the water's surface, offering a fascinating view of the underwater world.

    Through the lower windows, visitors can observe aquatic vegetation and fish swimming while they read. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily
    Through the lower windows, visitors can observe aquatic vegetation and fish swimming while they read. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily

    What would it be like to immerse yourself in a book while fish swim just inches away from your chair? In southwestern China, this scene is part of a real architectural experience.

    The CITIC bookstore on Xinglong Lake features a glass wall that extends below the water's surface, allowing visitors to observe aquatic life while turning the pages of a book and enjoying the surrounding natural environment.

    Large glass panels connect the bookstore's interior with the lake throughout the day. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily
    Large glass panels connect the bookstore's interior with the lake throughout the day. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily

    The real magic of this bookstore lies not only in its appearance but also in its engineering. The facade facing the lake extends nearly one meter (3.3 feet) underwater. From the reading tables, visitors can watch fish, floating plants, and rocks, while sunlight filtering through the water casts shimmering reflections across the ceiling.

    A page that fell from the sky

    The creative concept behind the building began with a poetic metaphor: "a book falling from the sky" onto the lakeshore. Its designers also sought to pay tribute to the traditional architecture of Sichuan Province, reinterpreting the sloping roofs of rural homes through a single continuous, undulating roof.

    The sloping roof pays tribute to traditional homes in the region and resembles a sheet of paper bending in the wind. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily
    The sloping roof pays tribute to traditional homes in the region and resembles a sheet of paper bending in the wind. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily

    Covering an area of 500 square meters (approximately 5,382 square feet), the rectangular structure rises to different heights at each end, reaching 16 meters (52 feet) at its highest point, to resemble a sheet of paper curved by the wind.

    The materials reinforce this organic harmony. The building combines steel frames and interior aluminum cladding with a wood-like finish, along with exterior titanium-zinc panels that develop a protective patina.

    Art exhibitions, coffee, and meditation

    The project began in 2018, when MUDA-Architects won an international competition to design the lake's landmark bookstore. After three years of complex engineering and construction, it opened its doors in October 2021.

    Natural light passes through the lake water, casting shifting reflections across the ceiling of the reading area. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily
    Natural light passes through the lake water, casting shifting reflections across the ceiling of the reading area. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily

    Since then, the building has continued to receive international architecture awards and has become a viral attraction, drawing thousands of visitors each day who come to take photographs and enjoy the unusual experience of reading while immersed in the surrounding landscape.

    The bookstore offers several other spaces to explore. Upon entering, visitors encounter a gallery featuring rotating art exhibitions before descending into the main reading room. There, readers can settle onto wooden tiered seating or find a spot beside the windows with a cup of coffee.

    Four-layer laminated glass allows visitors to observe aquatic life while withstanding water pressure in the submerged section. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily
    Four-layer laminated glass allows visitors to observe aquatic life while withstanding water pressure in the submerged section. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily

    For those seeking complete tranquility, a more secluded corridor features narrow openings at eye level that frame small sections of the landscape outside. Beyond the building, wooden terraces extend over the lakeshore, offering a peaceful place to watch the sunset.

    An engineering challenge beneath the surface

    To create the impressive underwater view, the architects at MUDA-Architects had to overcome the challenge of the enormous pressure exerted by the water on the structure.

    The building's silhouette follows the contours of the terrain and appears to float on the surface of Xinglong Lake. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily
    The building's silhouette follows the contours of the terrain and appears to float on the surface of Xinglong Lake. Credit: MUDA Architects and ArchDaily

    The solution was to install four-layer tempered and laminated glass panels, designed to withstand water pressure and ensure visitor safety. The team also applied watertight seals to the joints and protected the metal profiles against corrosion.

    The project also accounted for rising lake levels during the rainy season. The facade is designed to function properly both when water levels are low and when the lake reaches its highest level.

    China may be an ocean away, and traveling to Xinglong Lake is hardly an everyday adventure. Fortunately, getting lost in a good book doesn't require traveling halfway around the world. It's a journey that can begin right from the comfort of your own couch.