Luxury fashion house Chanel has partnered with Shanghai's Power Station of Art (PSA) museum to launch the Espace Gabrielle Chanel, marking a significant milestone as mainland China's first public library entirely dedicated to contemporary art and design. The groundbreaking cultural destination spans 1,700 square meters on the transformed third floor of PSA, representing the latest phase of Chanel's long-term partnership with the prestigious museum.
The innovative library space was conceived by renowned Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto, who transformed the traditional concept of reading into an immersive spatial experience. The library's most distinctive feature is a slow, ascending pathway that seamlessly integrates bookshelves into a continuous ramp design, encouraging visitors to explore, pause, and make discoveries at their own pace. This architectural approach creates a unique environment where browsing books becomes a journey through carefully curated space.
The Power Station of Art officially opened the library with an impressive collection of more than 10,000 publicly accessible books and media resources, which are part of a broader collection containing 50,000 items. The library's focus encompasses contemporary art, design, architecture, culture, and social sciences, with particular emphasis on fostering cross-disciplinary research and facilitating exchanges between local Chinese and global perspectives. This comprehensive approach positions the library as a vital resource for scholars, artists, and cultural enthusiasts.
Above the main reading area, the Chinese Contemporary Art Documentation Center serves as a specialized hub that consolidates archival materials and research initiatives developed in collaboration with artists, curators, and academic scholars. The center, supported through Chanel's strategic partnership with the Shanghai-based museum, approaches documentation as a dynamic, evolving resource rather than a static historical record. Through a diverse program of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and publishing activities, the center actively contributes to the ongoing discourse around contemporary Chinese art.
The ambitious third-floor renovation project introduces three additional public functions that significantly expand PSA's cultural offerings. A completely redesigned 300-seat theater provides a versatile venue for film screenings, live performances, sound art installations, and innovative hybrid formats that transcend traditional stage limitations. The theater's flexible design enables seamless connections between time-based artistic practices and exhibition spaces throughout the institution, creating new possibilities for interdisciplinary presentations.
The renovation also includes an enhanced hall for the Power Station of Design, which builds upon the museum's established commitment to design as a form of cultural inquiry. This upgraded space provides an improved environment for hosting larger exhibitions and cross-disciplinary collaborations that examine contemporary urban life and design challenges. The enhanced facility strengthens PSA's position as a leading venue for design-focused programming and research.
Completing the comprehensive transformation is a new 300-square-meter outdoor terrace, made possible through Chanel's collaboration. This thoughtfully designed space features a riverside café, family-friendly seating areas, and panoramic views of the Huangpu River. The terrace offers visitors a peaceful retreat within the industrial framework of the former power plant, creating a harmonious balance between the building's historic character and contemporary cultural functions. For Chanel, this ambitious project reinforces the fashion house's long-term commitment to supporting cultural production and knowledge-sharing initiatives in China, demonstrating the brand's dedication to fostering artistic and intellectual exchange in one of the world's most dynamic cultural markets.
