In an inspired architectural undertaking, SZ-Architects has reimagined a disused prison guard tower in Hefei, China, converting it into an inviting 70-square-meter, 24-hour bookstore. This innovative project, dubbed 'A Very Small 24-Hour Bookstore,' represents a profound transformation, breathing new purpose into a structure once emblematic of confinement. Situated within the Hechai 1972 Creative Park, formerly the Anhui Provincial Hefei Prison, the tower now stands as a beacon of accessibility, offering a communal reading sanctuary to the surrounding community. This adaptive reuse not only preserves a piece of local history but fundamentally alters its narrative, fostering engagement and intellectual freedom where strict oversight once reigned.
The transformation journey was meticulous, involving extensive structural analysis and reinforcement to adapt the 1997-era tower for its new role. Architects fortified the existing frame with steel hoops, strengthened the second-floor slab, and enlarged concrete roof beams, all while ensuring minimal additional stress on the original construction. A key innovation was the introduction of a suspended steel structural system, utilizing cantilevered channels and hanger rods to support the new upper floor, circulation paths, seating, and shelving. This ingenious approach allowed for the expansion of usable space without compromising the integrity of the historic edifice. The interior design emphasizes lightness and reversibility, with bookshelves lining the upper level and integrated reading desks, promoting an atmosphere of quiet reflection and community interaction. The project masterfully juxtaposes the building's restrictive past with its liberated present, creating a welcoming civic landmark from a symbol of surveillance.
From Watchtower to Welcoming Haven: A Bookstore's Metamorphosis
SZ-Architects' conversion of a former prison watchtower in Hefei, China, into a 24-hour bookstore symbolizes a dramatic shift from observation and control to community engagement and intellectual freedom. Named 'A Very Small 24-Hour Bookstore,' this 70-square-meter space reclaims a derelict structure within the Hechai 1972 Creative Park, once the Anhui Provincial Hefei Prison. The architects skillfully navigated the constraints of the original building, whose seven-square-meter ground floor footprint and second-level patrol platform with panoramic views now host a vibrant cultural hub. Original features like window grilles, once fitted for weaponry, are preserved as reminders of the tower's past, contrasting sharply with its new function as an open, unguarded space for reading and community interaction. This conceptual inversion is central to the project's philosophy, mirroring the inclusive ethos of its namesake bookstore in Nanjing, which thrives on donated books, handwritten postcards, and a welcoming atmosphere, transforming a site of confinement into a space of shared knowledge and public access.
The genesis of this remarkable project was serendipitous. During an unrelated visit to the Hechai 1972 Creative Park, the Shanghai- and Tokyo-based architects discovered the neglected guard tower. Recognizing its potential, they proposed transforming it into a micro-bookstore, envisioning it as a continuously open and accessible space for local residents, a stark deviation from its former purpose. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the 'A Very Small Bookstore' concept, which champions an open, community-driven model. Books are sourced from personal collections and donations, walls are adorned with messages, and the establishment is even tended by adopted stray cats, fostering an environment where visitors actively contribute to its evolving character. The transformation underscores a profound philosophical shift: from a structure designed for rigorous oversight and security to one that embraces trust, openness, and informal public occupation, serving as a social archive shaped by its patrons rather than a commercially curated destination.
Architectural Ingenuity: Reinforcing History, Suspending Innovation
The architectural rehabilitation of the former prison guard tower into 'A Very Small 24-Hour Bookstore' was a complex undertaking, necessitating a meticulous blend of structural reinforcement and innovative design. Lacking original blueprints from 1997, SZ-Architects began with a comprehensive geotechnical and structural assessment to ensure the building's stability. They meticulously strengthened the original frame by encasing corner columns with steel hoops, reinforcing the second-floor slab, and enlarging the concrete beam sections of the roof. High-ductility concrete joint-filling techniques were applied to parts of the exterior walls to enhance their structural capacity, ensuring the historic integrity of the building was maintained while preparing it for new demands. This foundational work was crucial to supporting the subsequent innovative additions, allowing the new elements to integrate seamlessly while respecting the existing structure's limitations and history.
To minimize additional load and maximize functional space, SZ-Architects devised a clever suspended steel structural system. Eight C-shaped steel channels were extended outwards from the reinforced roof beams, creating a cantilevered upper floor that expands beyond the original footprint. These channels anchor vertical steel hanger rods, which in turn connect to matching steel members beneath the original slab, forming a self-contained, suspended framework. This system ingeniously supports the new circulation areas, seating, and shelving without over-stressing the older structure. An external cantilevered balcony, thoughtfully inserted through an original window opening, further extends the bookstore's reach into the park, providing new vantage points. Inside, bookshelves line the upper level, and reading desks are integrated into the primary steel structure, utilizing a scaffolding-like logic with suspended stainless-steel rods for a light, reversible aesthetic. The walls are deliberately left mostly blank, intended to be filled over time with postcards and messages from visitors, transforming the space from one of rigid surveillance into a living archive of shared human experience and communal presence.