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Read and Rest

Print magazines reign supreme at this hotel in Beijing, where guests can browse a library stocked with a curated selection of publications.

Once deemed a dying art form following the advent of digital, print media continues to prove its worth, achieving something of a cult status in recent years. Much like the resurgence of vinyl records, magazines are experiencing their time in the limelight once more, bringing with them a sense of nostalgia that offers a welcome reprieve from today’s fast-paced world.

Recognising the power of print in detaching the mind from the pressures of modern life, Beijing-based studio Office AIO centred Read and Rest Hotel – a 60-room boutique nestled in the winding alleys of the Xiang’Er Hutong – around an in-house library stocked with an intriguing assortment of print publications. The space is lined with oak and defined by a series of secluded alcoves – one is fitted with a cushioned bench where guests can lounge with a magazine, another has in-built tables for study – with reading materials displayed on a tiered shelf in the centre. When booking a stay at the hotel, guests are also encouraged to share their personal interests, meaning complementary titles can be delivered to their room prior to arrival.

“In the context of Beijing’s busy city life, Read and Rest Hotel at its core is an attempt at promoting a quality lifestyle that is balanced between feeding one’s curiosity (read) and bringing calmness to one’s senses (rest),” say Office AIO founders Tim Kwan and Isabelle Sun.

Striking the balance between staying connected and switching off is a challenge that many of us are all too familiar with, but burying one’s head in a great magazine without the threat of pop-up ads or roaming charges will always be considered time well spent in our book.