Boundless' Yulin Ueno: A Timeless Fusion of History and Modernity

Reviving Industrial Civilization with the Scent of Books

The Yulin Ueno bookstore, designed by Boundless, breathes new life into Huizhou's Wild Island Cultural Life Community, intertwining the past and the present in a harmonious blend of architecture and literature.

Located in the heart of the cultural community, the Yulin Ueno bookstore is a testament to the city's rich history. The design team at Boundless has meticulously preserved the remnants of the city's industrial civilization, creating a space where old memories overlap with new stories. The bookstore, once a distillery, is now a vibrant hub of knowledge and culture, where the scent of books awakens the city's past.

The bookstore's unique design is a testament to Boundless' commitment to connecting history and environment through architecture. The space has been carefully planned and reconstructed to reflect a sense of time that flows in stillness. The symbiotic relationship between people and bookstores is guided by spirit and connected by emotion, making the Yulin Ueno bookstore a unique cultural landmark.

The design team has seamlessly integrated modern design elements with the weather-beaten brick walls of the former distillery. The boiler room has been transformed into a "mailbox of time," where every letter and postcard serves as a sincere and lasting confession to the city. The bookstore's nearly 300 square meters space integrates knowledge seeking, talks, leisure, and other experiences, creating a multi-cultural complex urban space.

The Yulin Ueno bookstore project presented several challenges, including the correction of the original sloping building structure and the selection of materials. Despite these hurdles, the design team persevered, resulting in a bookstore that is more complex and beautiful than initially envisioned. The old chimney of the winery, completely preserved and towering into the clouds, serves as a cultural symbol of the city's development.

The Yulin Ueno bookstore is a testament to Boundless' commitment to preserving history while pushing the boundaries of modern design. The project was awarded Silver in the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding design and innovation. The Yulin Ueno bookstore serves as a reminder of the power of design in shaping our understanding of the past and envisioning the future.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Wenke Lin
Image Credits: Photographer Yesong, (Ueno Bookstore), 2021
Project Team Members: Wenke Lin Zhengyuan sun
Project Name: Yulin Ueno
Project Client: Wenke Lin


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