During the second decade of 21st Century, “Aranya” has emerged from an aging tourist town on the coast of Bohai Bay. The once bankrupted mass real-estate developments between beach and golf courses, has made its phenomenal rebirth by curating a collection of star architectures, non-stop cultural events, and carefully selected shops. Despite its 300km distance away from the national capital, the gated community has turned into a pilgrim site for lifestyle “chasers” from all over China. Aranya becomes Beijing's seaside. By promoting high-quality man-made beach, year-round sunlight, unfiltered fresh air, Disney-level cleanliness, and most importantly, relative personal freedom and property rights, Aranya creates a social oasis in northern China. This attracts great many individuals and entities of the creative community, who escape from the hostile metropolis to find refuge for life and work.

Following the success of its debut bookstore/café space in Beijing, "IMAGINIST" has revealed its second physical space in Aranya. As an icon for independent publishing in China, "IMAGINIST" has been exploring possible ways of connecting authors and readers. Working closely with the client, designRESERVE team helps to establish the DNA and guidelines for spatial developments of the brand store, "naive IMAGINIST". Instead of emphasizing the image of the “bookstore”, creating a sense of place as a mixed-use cultural venue is given priority. Diversified functions such as café, cocktail bar, seating and event space are interwoven with book displays, cultivating a relaxed and intimate relationship between readers and books.

The new space is located in District 6 of Aranya campus, occupying the ground floor of a Mediterranean style apartment building. Adjacent to the Performance Art Center and The Dune Museum, the site witnesses big crowd of visitors during events and festivals, while staying humbly quiet as the back lane of the marble-clad amphitheater. The design goal is to create a converging place for dynamic community events, and to reclaim the street as the common ground for neighborhood life.

Consisting of patios and courtyards, the sidewalk along the store façade is reshaped as an extension of interior space. Total floor area is nearly 900 square meters, including bookshop, cafe, bar, event space, digital exhibition area, writer’s guestrooms, and youth hostel. The compact and integrated functions have made the space a vessel of non-stop activities.

Covered with undulating white steel panels, the facade reflects the ever-changing seaside weather through its waves of light and shadow. In the foyer, visitors are welcomed by a digital screen wall displaying “Imaginist” online content. Entering the main hall, large glass openings maximize transparency towards the street, while rendering the interior with ample natural light. The material palette of bright white and mild grey, filtered through seaside natural light, creates a gentle and pleasant atmosphere, a soothing and comforting environment for reading and lounging. The custom designed bookshelves take varied presence throughout the space, sometimes airy and paper-like, sometimes carved and sculptural. They help define different functional areas by various use of materials and details. The focal point of the space is the central bar area, serving as coffee shop during daytime and cocktail lounge at night. An expansive lighting feature hovers above the bar. It is imagined as an extension of the bookshelves, a sculptural piece seen from street like a cluster of sitting cloud above the ocean.

As a new chapter for the brand's development, the project incorporates guestroom and youth hostel. For the publisher, "Writer's Lodge" and "naive HOSTEL" reflects IMAGINIST's mission to connect authors and readers beyond physical books. Consisting of four “Writer’s Rooms”, "Writer's Lodge" is hidden behind a bookshelf in the bookshop and only accessible through a secret door. Detached but not isolated, it provides an ideal choice for creative minds who seek quiet retreat with plenty of books, drinks, and sea.

“naive HOSTEL", with a silver façade of corrugated metal, generates a younger and campus-like presence. Inspired by cruise cabins, designRESERVE manages to fit 6 quadruple rooms and 4 single rooms, total 28 beds, into a constrained floor plan. Selected volumes from the “IMAGINIST” archive are displayed throughout lobby, corridors, and other common areas. Most notable feature is the custom designed code-like patterns appearing in the reception area and sleeping quarters. Inspired by the publisher's signature works, the M series, the letter “M” is morphed into various typography and arrangements, serving as a powerful visual background and integrated branding.