Chanel opens Espace Gabrielle Chanel, China’s first public library dedicated to contemporary art

Chanel is once again placing culture at the heart of its global strategy with the opening of the Espace Gabrielle Chanel. This new project redefines the fashion house’s relationship with contemporary creation. The space is located in Shanghai’s Power Station of Art (PSA) and is the country’s first public library dedicated entirely to contemporary art. Its arrival marks a significant step in the brand’s cultural expansion in Asia.

The library occupies 18,000 square feet and houses more than 50,000 books and audio editions. Its aim is to serve as a meeting point for researchers, students, artists and anyone interested in contemporary art. It is not just an archive, but also functions as a cultural space open to the city.

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A design that connects the past and the landscape

Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto has shaped the Espace Gabrielle Chanel with a design that seeks balance and fluidity. The building retains its industrial identity but introduces new circulation routes that soften the space. Its most striking feature is the ‘valley of books’, a labyrinthine area inspired by the energy of the Huangpu River.

This renovation is part of a larger expansion of the Power Station of Art. Chanel has also supported the improvement of the exhibition hall, the creation of a theatre, a design centre and a terrace overlooking the river.

Chanel’s largest cultural project in Asia

This Espace Gabrielle Chanel is the Chanel Culture Fund’s most ambitious initiative in Asia. The maison and the PSA have been collaborating since 2021 through the Next Cultural Producer programme, which promotes new practices in craftsmanship, architecture and contemporary theatre in China.

‘The Espace Gabrielle Chanel is a testament to our commitment to future cultural producers, readers and art enthusiasts across China,’ says Yana Peel, Chanel’s global director of art, culture and heritage. For her, the key is to work with relevant institutions rather than creating isolated spaces. This same vision has led Chanel to collaborate with entities such as the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, the MCA Chicago, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

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