Once a niche venue for Kunqu literature, Baihua Bookstore had faded into an afterthought, serving mostly as a passageway. The recent redesign by Tsing-Tien Making changes that narrative. Positioned inside the China Kunqu Opera Museum, the new space aims to reconnect with the art form’s heritage while creating an engaging environment for visitors.
Design Inspired by the Tangmingdan
The concept draws from the Tangmingdan, a collapsible façade used by traditional opera troupes. Its adaptable structure informs a “bookstore-plus” model, where mobile displays, magnetic systems, and retractable curtains enable flexible use. These elements allow the bookstore to transform into a micro-theater for cultural events with ease.
Reclaimed wooden doors and carved panels from the original site were carbonized and integrated into the design, creating strong links to the past. At the same time, perforated steel panels on the south façade introduce a modern layer, featuring a pattern derived from the crescent-shaped ornaments worn by Kunqu actors. Together, these details merge tradition with contemporary sensibility, re-establishing Baihua as a vital part of the museum experience.