This project involves the renovation of an old factory located in the M60 Cultural and Creative Park in Kunming, Yunnan. Originally established in the 1980s as the Kunming Battery Factory, the site has been transformed amidst urban renewal efforts into a vibrant creative park combining retail and office spaces. The expansive workshop was subdivided into multiple units, which are now leased to various merchants and small businesses.
▲ Project Overview © Zhang Lei
The factory, with a height of 12 meters, retains essential industrial features such as sturdy concrete columns and slender steel frames supporting a thin, sloping roof. After the previous tenant vacated, the interior was whitewashed, obscuring many industrial details but preserving the vast spatial volume.
The original roof structure has been preserved, allowing ample natural light to flood the interior © Zhang Lei
The owner’s dream was always to open a bookstore, and she found this unique space ideal for that vision. She envisions it as a cultural hub where people can read quietly alone or come together to share and exchange ideas.
▲ First-floor reading area © Zhang Yongbin
▲ Second-floor reading area © Zhang Lei
▲ Indoor and exhibition space © Zhang Lei
Such expansive, unique spaces are increasingly rare in urban environments. Our renovation strategy aims to preserve the factory’s original character while accommodating functions such as bookshelf displays, meetings, dining, social gatherings, and leisure reading.
▲ First-floor water bar counter and dining area © Zhang Lei
▲ Second-floor negotiation and check-in area © Zhang Lei
We designed a massive “giant bookshelf” covering an entire wall of the factory, making it the central visual focus of the space. The circulation paths were carefully planned to guide visitors between the bookshelves on different floors and various functional zones, allowing them to fully experience the unique spatial and lighting qualities of the old factory.
▲ Design concept analysis © Vegetarian architecture
▲ Circulation connecting the book wall and various spaces © Zhang Lei
Circulation is a key design element in this project. The factory is situated between two parallel roads in the park, with no connecting passage between them. We aimed to open this space as a “corridor” linking both roads, thereby activating the park’s flow and inviting more visitors into the interior.
▲ The east-west corridor opens up the space © Zhang Lei
We utilized the tallest wall in the factory to create a towering bookshelf wall, with four levels of walkways in front, providing easy access to the books. As visitors ascend, they gradually reach higher spaces within the factory, gaining sweeping views of the interior. These pathways then lead to newly designed resting areas at various elevations throughout the building.
▲ Circulation analysis © Vegetarian architecture
▲ Connecting circulation between bookshelves on each floor © Zhang Lei
Our design respects the factory’s tall spatial volume by preserving original structural elements while integrating new spaces that complement the old building. The result is two independent yet symbiotic environments that coexist harmoniously.
▲ Staircase on the opposite side of the factory building © Zhang Lei
▲ Stairs connecting the second and third floors © Zhang Lei
▲ Stairs connecting the second and third floors © Zhang Lei
▲ Third-floor negotiation space © Zhang Lei
As urbanization slows, renovating and revitalizing old buildings has become increasingly important. Our challenge is to create new spaces that meet modern commercial demands while preserving the historical and architectural identity of these structures, telling their unique stories through design.
▲ Indoor space © Zhang Lei
▲ Indoor space © Zhang Yongbin
▲ West facade © Zhang Lei
▲ East facade © Zhang Lei
▲ Opening windows on the east facade © Zhang Yongbin
Project Drawings
▲ First floor plan © Vegetarian architecture
▲ Second floor plan © Vegetarian architecture
▲ Three-story building plan © Vegetarian architecture
▲ West facade of the building © Vegetarian architecture
▲ East facade of the building © Vegetarian architecture
Project Information
Project Name: Ladder Space: Old Factory Building, New Book Cafe
Designer: Original Architecture
Design & Completion: September 2023 & May 2024
Lead Creators and Design Team
Lead Architects: Dong Wen, Du Jie
Project Architect: Yin Xiaowen
Team Members: Guo Jing, Zhao Shengchao, Guan Yuyan, Li Ruijie, Zhou Ling, Qin Mingwei (intern), Wang Huihan (intern), Yang Han (intern)
Project Location: M60 Cultural and Creative Park, Phuket Road, Wuhua District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province
Building Area: 500 square meters
Photography Credits: Zhang Lei, Zhang Yongbin
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