Espace Gabrielle Chanel: A New Cultural Landmark Opens Inside Shanghai’s Power Station of Art
Shanghai’s cultural landscape has gained a striking new addition with the opening of Espace Gabrielle Chanel, a multidisciplinary space jointly created by the Power Station of Art (PSA) and Chanel. Officially opened to the public on November 25, the newly transformed third floor of PSA brings together reading, performance, design, and leisure in a seamlessly integrated environment overlooking the Huangpu River.
A Library Designed for Immersive Exploration
At the heart of the new space is a 1,700-square-meter library designed by Japanese architect Kazuhiro Sakamoto. Built around a gently ascending, multi-level layout, the library creates the spatial experience of a three-story reading landscape. Visitors can navigate stepped platforms and curved pathways to explore a curated collection spanning art, design, architecture, culture, and the social sciences.
The library will ultimately house 50,000 volumes, with more than 10,000 books and audiovisual materials available during the initial phase. Visitors can book a timeslot via the PSA WeChat mini-program.
A Flexible Theater for Contemporary Expression
Complementing the library is a newly enhanced 300-seat theater, designed to flexibly support a wide range of programming. From film screenings and moving-image works to stage performances, sound experiments, and press events, the theater offers a dynamic venue that can also link with surrounding exhibition spaces, opening new possibilities for cross-disciplinary artistic encounters.
Power Station of Design: Linking Creativity and Urban Life
The updated floor also houses PSA’s Power Station of Design (psD), a center established in 2016 that explores the intersections of design, urban life, and consumer culture. Its longstanding “Architecture and Urbanism Research Series,” active since 2014, has brought more than 20 major international architectural exhibitions to Shanghai, positioning architecture as a lens for cultural dialogue and social reflection.
A Riverside Platform with Panoramic Views
Rounding out the new cultural hub is a sunlit riverside leisure platform offering a sweeping 180-degree view of the Huangpu River. Newly added coffee and family-friendly areas provide a welcoming space for visitors to pause between exhibitions, enjoy the river breeze, and experience a slower rhythm within the city’s contemporary art center.
