Foldaway Bookshop
As the digital revolution advances, Foldaway Bookshop, celebrated the art form of the printed publication, creating a key destination and sociable hub to welcome visitors for the London Festival of Architecture 2010. Stocked by RIBA Bookshops, Foldaway Bookshop was created as a specialist architecture bookshop featuring the latest must-have high quality publications and the most coveted architecture classics.
With a bespoke interior and graphics created by London based design studio Campaign, the walls, shelving and sales counter of Foldaway Bookshop are constructed entirely from cardboard and designed to be financially economical, recyclable at the end of the project, allow maximum flexibility for a range of display options and to reposition for a variety of events, including a launch party, talks and screenings.
Inspired by the open pages of a book, sheets of cardboard 4.7m x 2.17m and 10mm thin were folded and pleated to concertina along all four interior walls. Lengths of cardboard inserted horizontally create sturdy shelving to house a variety of publications. An expanse of cardboard on the rear wall created an unconventional and effective backdrop for projections. Along with giant paperclips and post-it notes, visiting was like entering a giant book.
Book recommendations from a selection of London's practicing architects and critics could be seen displayed throughout the store to enhance browsing and buying.
Foldaway Bookshop was designed in three weeks and constructed within three days from 58 sheets of cardboard, which was the material of choice in response to an increasing awareness of reducing waste and employing thriftiness for a short-term project.
A bespoke cardboard vitrine was created to house a selection of rare vintage copies of Architectural Design, sourced from the personal collection of the late Monica Pidgeon.
The Flexible Love Chair and Eurban’s Carbon Cube provided comfortable seating in store.
