Readings Chadstone
A sanctuary for book lovers, Readings Chadstone by Kerstin Thompson Architects is an airy, welcoming space lit by the glow of an exceptional paper lantern created in collaboration with Edward Linacre Studio.
Located in in Melbourne, Readings Chadstone is the kind of bookstore that feels like your own private escape. Set within the new Market Pavilion precinct, the generous 370-square-metre space is an oasis of calm amid its bustling retail surroundings. Designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), the brief was to create a sanctuary for book lovers to browse, explore and discover new titles.
The facade consists of floor-to-ceiling glazing with a shelving unit displaying exciting new-release titles. The reclaimed bluestone flooring – a nod to Melbourne’s material history – along with the acoustic treatment of the soaring ceilings and wide accessible aisles contributes to the tranquil, inviting atmosphere that draws visitors from the entry deep into the store. The space also accommodates an intimate events area toward the back for author talks and launches, alongside a generous children’s zone with soft carpet and seating.
The project sets out to test how sustainable thinking could meaningfully shape a retail interior, focusing on dematerialisation and responsible material sourcing as key design strategies. The layout is organised around modular systems such as freestanding timber shelving and adaptable display elements, allowing for flexibility while minimising waste. The interiors are minimalist without being austere, demonstrating how KTA’s working-with-less approach can result in a rich, comfortable environment where clarity and restraint support the customer experience rather than diminish it.
Running the full length of the store is its defining feature: a monumental, suspended paper lantern developed in close collaboration between KTA, Edward Linacre Studio and Ambience. Measuring a whopping 23 metres by 3.4 metres, the lantern was fabricated from recycled paper pulped from misprinted books that would otherwise be sent for disposal, turning publishing waste into something beautiful and functional.
Developing the lantern involved a year-long process of experimentation and testing. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese papermaking technique of nagashi-zuki, custom pulp baths and frames were used to create large-format handmade paper panels. Each panel is unique, carrying subtle variations in tone, texture and translucency that speak to the material’s origins. Remarkably, just 25 misprinted books were used to produce all 130 light panels.
Readings Chadstone is the third collaboration between Kerstin Thompson Architects and Readings and builds on a longstanding relationship that allows for critical reflection and continual improvement with each project. By responding directly to the realities of waste within the book industry, the project reframes sustainability as an opportunity for better spaces, better experiences and new ways of valuing what already exists.
