Architects: China Architecture Design & Research Group (CADG)
Area: 568 m²
Year: 2021
Photography: GEN BEN TANG
Architectural Designer: Fei Guan, Yuanzheng Dong, Deling Wang
Landscape Design Architects: Unlimited Landscape studio, China Urban Construction Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Construction: China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp. Ltd.
Design Director: Kai Cui
Interior Designer: Wenwen Han, Aiai Zhang
Electrical Engineer: Xueyu He, Jingsha Li, Lin He
Lighting Consultant: Dongning Wang, Xiaolei Sun, Jincang Yu
Curtain Wall Consultant: Baizhan Cao
Structural Engineer: Ya Sun
Client: LIBRIRIE AVANT-GARDE
Partner Practice: Horticultural Expo Nan Jing
City: Nanjing
Country: China
The Garden Expo Silo Bookstore, known as Librairie Avant-Garde, designed by China Architecture Design & Research Group (CADG), transforms ten former cement silos in Nanjing into a cultural landmark. Completed in 2021, this adaptive reuse project redefines the silos as thematic spaces celebrating books, art, and philosophy while restoring the ecological damage caused by the site’s industrial past. The project integrates minimalist design principles with a focus on spiritual and environmental renewal, offering visitors immersive and reflective experiences.
On Tang Mountain, in the outskirts of Nanjing, ten towering cylindrical cement silos stand as striking reminders of the area’s industrial history. These geometrically precise structures were originally part of a cement processing plant, surrounded by the noise of machinery, pollution, and environmental degradation. Over time, the site became silent, and the silos stood abandoned, awaiting a new purpose.
The construction of the Garden Expo provided the opportunity to rehabilitate the damaged landscape and repurpose these silos, transforming them into Librairie Avant-Garde—a bookstore filled with cultural and spiritual significance. The architects envisioned this transformation as a way to breathe new life into the silos, symbolized by the store’s motto, “The stranger on the earth,” reflecting a universal connection to life and the cosmos.
The original cement silos were used to store crushed ores, with an upper and lower layer connected by pipes. In their new role as “book silos,” the interior has been restructured into three levels, including rooftop gardens featuring strong osmanthus trees that pierce through the silos’ tops. Square openings, left behind after the removal of hoppers, allow light to flood the interior. The reimagined silos now embody a blend of industrial heritage and cultural vitality, emphasizing renewal and growth.
Each of the ten silos represents a distinct theme, designed to create unique, immersive experiences for visitors. These include the Most Beautiful Book Silo, the Art Silo, the Picture Book Silo for children, the Travel and Living Silo for wanderers, and the Ancient Book Silo for those exploring past civilizations.
Other silos cater to different audiences: the Literature Silo for writers, the Humanities and Social Sciences Silo for intellectual inquiry, the Poetry Silo for dreamers, the Cashier Silo for simple joys, and the Ladder of Poets, symbolizing light and aspiration. This thematic approach reflects the silos’ function as conduits to creativity and intellectual exploration.
The circular shape of each silo symbolizes upward growth and infinite potential. Standing beneath the silos and looking up, visitors experience a seamless connection between books, nature, and the vastness of the sky. The spiraling perspectives evoke a transition from material to spiritual space, reinforcing the idea of books as gateways to boundless imagination and thought.
The design emphasizes “white” as a metaphor for purity and new beginnings. The interiors feature walls coated with a spherical finish mimicking the texture of paper, while 3mm-thick steel plates form the bookshelves, embodying the lightness of paper. This minimalist approach aligns with the Garden Expo’s principle of “light intervention,” ensuring the design respects the silos’ industrial past while fostering an atmosphere of spiritual renewal.
The use of mirrors in the dark zones between silos expands the spatial perception, creating illusions that draw visitors into a dreamlike state. These reflective surfaces enhance the sense of immersion, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination, and amplifying the symbolic connection between books and the infinite possibilities of human thought.
The Garden Expo’s broader goal of repairing the scars left by industrial activity is reflected in the repurposing of these silos. According to the design vision, restoration is not about returning to the past but about creating a future that aligns with contemporary needs. By transforming the silos into spaces that embody cultural and ecological harmony, the project seeks to provide not only physical renewal but also emotional and spiritual healing for the community. Librairie Avant-Garde exemplifies this approach to adaptive reuse, integrating historical preservation with forward-thinking design and encouraging visitors to contemplate humanity’s ability for transformation and growth.
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Project Location
Address: Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211133, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
