BookXcess settled in REXKL - a book labyrinth hidden in the bustling city

BookXcess, a Malaysian book retailer , entered REXKL as early as November 2021 and became a part of this community cultural center, but due to the epidemic and floods, the press conference was postponed to March 10, 2022 , officially displayed this book maze hidden in Sultan Street, Kuala Lumpur.

The new branch of BookXcess is located on the second floor of REXKL, Sultan Street Community Cultural Centre. (Photo: Li Shuyi)

BookXcess, founded by husband-and-wife team Andrew Yap and Jacqueline Ng in 2006, has adhered to the business philosophy of selling books at low prices for many years, hoping to improve the reading literacy of Chinese people and make books more accessible to more people. thing. Since 2009, BookXcess has held the Big Bad Wolf Book Fair every year, actively reaching out to people who are not used to reading, and has received enthusiastic responses. Now it has expanded to many overseas countries and has become the largest book fair in the world.

In the era of bookstores closing and closing, BookXcess has not stopped due to the epidemic. Today, there are 16 physical bookstores in Malaysia, each of which is unique. The Cyberjaya branch is the first bookstore in Malaysia that does not close for 24 hours. The Penang branch has the longest bookshelf in Malaysia, and the ring tunnel design of the Setia Alam branch is eye-catching.

BookXcess takes advantage of the staircase space of the original theatre to create a spectacular book maze. (Photo: Li Shuyi)

This new branch is located in REXKL, which was formerly known as Park Screen Cinema. This theater used to be the largest in the region. After two fires in 1972 and 2002, it was renovated to its current appearance in 2019 by a team led by architect Zheng Shunsheng.., on the other hand, occupies 6,000 square feet on the second floor of what used to be a theater seat.

In design, BookXcess takes advantage of the staircase space of the original theater to create a spectacular book maze. Walking into the labyrinth, every corner is full of surprises. Some spaces are narrow and cramped, and you have to bend down and bow your head when walking, echoing the feeling of exploring the streets and alleys of Petaling Street outside; sometimes you suddenly become enlightened.

BookXcess takes advantage of the staircase space of the original theatre to create a spectacular book maze. (Photo: Li Shuyi)

There are also see-through glass corridors hidden in some hidden corners, as well as works by activist Fahmi Reza parodies of former Prime Minister Najib. Boxy wooden bookshelves are intricately intertwined into a large geometric adventure game. Many parts of the wall retain the original appearance as much as possible, with the traces of exposed red brick cement and fire tongues, with a strong street industrial style.

BookXcess bookstore sells books at low prices. (Photo: Li Shuyi)

BookXcess bookstore has more than 80,000 books of various genres, and many corners also display paintings from Malaysian and Indonesian artists, which are also sold at affordable prices.

At the same media preview meeting, Ye Tianlong welcomed everyone to the bookstore, "Imagine achievement as if you are about to walk into an ancient castle, but be vigilant when going up and down the stairs. We want to reinfuse this adventurous spirit into everyone's life., especially this is not common in Kuala Lumpur.”

BookXcess founder Ye Tianlong (centre) hopes to reinfuse the spirit of adventure into the lives of the city dwellers. On the right is Zheng Shunsheng, founder of REXKL. (Photo: Li Shuyi)

The Vibes, March 12, 2022