Livraria da Vila Artes emerges from a precise gesture within a space that, at first glance,
appears condensed. Occupying only 40 square meters, the project stems from an
investigation into how architecture can intensify the presence of the book while positioning itself as a pause within the dynamics of the shopping mall — a point of deceleration where the time of experience prevails over the pace of circulation.
Project Name: Livraria da Vila Artes
Studio Name: ARCHITECTS OFFICE AO
Location: Morumbi Shopping, São Paulo
Year: 2026
Status: Completed
Built area: 40m²
Team: Marina Mermelstein, Cassio Riman, Corentin Morel, Thaís Beraldo e Maitê Cervantes
The demand for a fast execution does not diminish the project’s conceptual depth; on the
contrary, it guides clearer and more direct decisions, where each element is driven by a logic of essentiality. The challenge is resolved through the construction of a space that recognizes the symbolic value of the collection — books on art, fashion, architecture, and gastronomy — treated as objects that transcend use and begin to inhabit the realm of desire and memory.
Externally, a beige-toned volume creates a subtle pause within the busy shopping
environment. Internally, an entirely blue cube envelops the visitor and invites them into the perception of the space. The choice of color draws inspiration from Yves Klein, whose
exploration of blue as a sensory, spiritual, and perceptual field guided the project.
Blue does not function as a background, but as a presence: a continuous field that absorbs
light, dissolves boundaries, and invites contemplation. Floor, walls, shelves, and ceiling
therefore dissolve hierarchies while directing the gaze toward the books. The
monochromatic atmosphere creates an immersive, almost abstract environment, while the
diffused light introduced through a stretched skylight at the center of the space amplifies
depth and enhances the experience of staying. This gesture visually unifies the technical
infrastructure and redefines the scale of the space.
The project is grounded in an architectural concept developed over nearly a decade of
collaboration between Livraria da Vila and ARCHITECTS OFFICE — an ongoing line of
thought currently applied across 18 locations.
The result moves away from the traditional bookstore typology and approaches the
atmosphere of a gallery — an environment where architecture and curatorship intertwine to reveal each edition as a singular object. Small in scale yet precise in intention, Livraria da Vila Artes asserts an architecture that enhances what it displays.
