Some spaces whisper. Others hum.
And then there are places like The Library by BookXcess — which practically sing to anyone who has ever loved the smell of paper, the weight of a book, or the quiet thrill of getting lost between shelves.
People should be interested in books, not their authors.
– Agatha Christie
I visited a few days after its official opening, right after the TikTok hype wave crested in December. I went with a couple of friends, half-curious, half-sceptical — and entirely unprepared for how cinematic the experience would feel. Walking in, the first thing that hits you isn’t just scale, but atmosphere. Floating books hover overhead like a suspended spell. Light pools softly between aisles. For a moment, you don’t feel like a shopper — you feel like Belle stepping into that library scene, minus the singing teapots.
This is a 24-hour space, and that detail matters. It changes the mood entirely. There’s no rush, no closing-time anxiety. The shelves stretch confidently across fiction and non-fiction, inviting wandering rather than browsing. It feels intentional — like a place designed not just for consumption, but for lingering.
The layout deserves its own quiet applause. Sections are mapped with clarity, not chaos. And when the reading turns into thinking (or procrastination masquerading as thinking), you’ll find sustenance close at hand. Nestled right within the pages is Kenny Hills Bakery, holding the fort till midnight for night owls, creative insomniacs, and students convincing themselves that one more chapter counts as productivity.
For those who want to work — or at least look convincingly like they are — there’s a dedicated co-working-friendly zone. Students especially will appreciate this: a space that understands that ideas don’t always arrive politely between 9 and 5. Tucked discreetly nearby is Becon Stationery, ready to rescue you when inspiration strikes and you realise you’ve forgotten a pen. Or three.
Wander upstairs and the tempo slows again. Chairs overlook the quarry lake — and in a quietly clever design move, classic Monobloc chairs have been reimagined into gentle rocking seats. It’s oddly comforting, like being rocked into focus rather than sleep.
Then there are the delightful, almost blink-and-you-miss-it details: an electric upright piano for wandering fingers and impromptu musicality; a wall clearly meant for photography enthusiasts; another that feels like a quiet nod to art historians; and, tucked away with just enough swagger, a Harley for bike lovers to admire between chapters.
I couldn’t help but think of Tsutaya Books, which I visited not long ago. Tsutaya carries its own calm authority — refined, restrained, deeply contemplative. Its reading corners are fitted with two electric pianos, and the mood there leans towards meditative elegance. Coffee and cakes accompany hushed concentration; it’s a place that encourages inward reflection.
BookXcess, by contrast, feels more exuberant. Where Tsutaya soothes, The Library energises. Where Tsutaya whispers, BookXcess hums — sometimes even grins. Both understand that books are more than objects; they’re experiences. They simply interpret that philosophy through different emotional registers.
Now that January has rolled in, the urge to return is strong — but this time alone. I’m picturing my own book, my reading journal (a Christmas gift from a dear friend), coffee in hand, thoughts spilling onto paper. Ideally without cake — because reality — but no promises.
Why This Place Matters to me
The Library by BookXcess isn’t just about books. It’s about belonging.
It understands that creativity doesn’t run on office hours, that learning isn’t linear, and that sometimes inspiration arrives at 3am with a cup of coffee and a view.
For students, designers, writers, educators — and anyone who believes ideas deserve space and time — this is a sanctuary.
A bookstore.
A workspace.
A midnight refuge.
And frankly? A dangerously good excuse to stay up too late.
Humor me for a second as I come to close my thoughts.
*Enters here in a voice imitating my favorite TV series – The Librarians (2014 – 2018)*
Welcome to The Library.
Bring time. You’ll lose track of it anyway.
Beamuse Designs 
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