Arcade Project by MOU Architecture Studio: Revitalizing Urban Culture in Nanjing
A multifunctional cultural hub in Nanjing blending bookstore, bar, and study spaces within a flexible, pavilion-like micro-urban interior.
Reimagining Public Cultural Space through Architecture
The Arcade Project by MOU Architecture Studio breathes new life into an overlooked corner of Nanjing, transforming a once-secluded upper-level space into a vibrant cultural hub. Inspired by Walter Benjamin’s Arcades Project, the design draws parallels between the 19th-century Parisian arcades—glass-covered internal boulevards of commerce and culture—and the need for micro-urban spaces that foster interaction, creativity, and communal engagement today.
Site Context and Access: Rediscovering Hidden Urban Layers
Located on the 2nd and 3rd floors at 116 Hongwu North Road, the building lies at the threshold between Nanjing’s busy streets and its residential life. The original access—a narrow and inconspicuous stairway—felt disconnected from the city. To address this, MOU introduced a white steel-clad corridor within the existing entry path, creating a transitional grey space that subtly reconnects the public realm with the cultural interior.
Reconfiguring Space: From Segmentation to Spatial Fluidity
Previously a tightly compartmentalized educational training center, the building suffered from poor lighting and lack of ventilation. MOU Architecture Studio dismantled the interior partitions and reopened street-facing windows, allowing natural light and views to once again animate the space. This transformation aligns with the project’s goal to create a light-filled, inclusive, and spontaneous urban interior.
Multi-Functional Pavilion: A Cultural Heartbeat
At the core of the project is a 3.6m x 10m rectangular pavilion, designed to house multiple functions: bookstore, bar, lounge, and event salon. Built within a space just 2.4m under the beam, the pavilion floats atop a poured concrete base, visually light yet structurally solid. Its hollowed-out form and polished concrete surfaces echo a raw elegance, preserving the memory of the original building while reimagining it as a contemporary social commons.
By day, the space operates as a bookstore and café; by night, it transforms into a bar and social venue. A foldable table functions as a reading station during the day and a cocktail table at night. These flexible design strategies enable seamless transitions between uses, maximizing functionality within the compact 140 m² footprint.
Programming Static and Dynamic Use: Curated Flexibility
The architectural program masterfully blends static book displays with dynamic cultural events. Rather than designing for either/or scenarios, MOU developed a hybrid mechanism where displays, events, seating, and storage co-exist. Custom furniture and modular layouts allow the space to evolve throughout the day, meeting both practical and experiential needs.
Third Floor: Dispersed Rooms and Urban Intimacy
On the upper floor, MOU dismantled the traditional large-room configuration and introduced six discrete yet interconnected rooms, including self-study areas, offices, and reading corridors. These rooms are designed at varying scales, distributed across the site and joined by internal walkways that reference the spatial rhythm of city alleys or markets.
Each room is semi-transparent, bathed in natural light, and features built-in book displays and seating niches. Circulation spaces double as exhibition corridors, creating opportunities for small-scale art shows or thematic installations. This architectural language echoes the idea of a micro-city, inviting users to meander, discover, and occupy the space freely.
Urban Microcosm: A Cultural Ecosystem
More than just an interior renovation, the Arcade Project is a cultural infrastructure experiment. It blends architecture, community programming, and urban storytelling to create a park-like atmosphere indoors—an ecosystem where reading, socializing, learning, and performance happen side by side.
The duality of day-and-night use, static-and-dynamic programs, and individual-and-communal spaces reflects the ever-changing rhythms of city life. The architecture responds with flexibility, material honesty, and poetic restraint, turning a once-forgotten space into a beacon of cultural regeneration.
