A Literary Haven at Schiphol
AKO Schiphol Bookstore
Client
AKO
Concept & Design
Tjep.
Design Team
Frank Tjepkema, Leonie Janssen
Photography
Floor Knaapen
Production
Hemi
Year
2012
Inspired Entirely by the Book
Tjep. reimagined the AKO flagship store at Schiphol Airport’s Arrival Hall 4 in 2024, crafting a 200 sq m space where every detail draws from the world of books. From book-shaped displays to flying book light fixtures and a checkout counter mimicking a stack of novels, the design celebrates literature’s allure, with a flowing book ribbon guiding navigation throughout the store.
A Global Hub for Travel Tales
The spacious store focuses on travel books, featuring shop-in-shops by Lonely Planet and National Geographic. A cozy reading area invites travelers to dive into guides for upcoming destinations or dream of exotic bucket-list spots, with portraits of global customers by Floor Knaapen adorning the shelves above.
Seamless Flow for Busy Travelers
Frank Tjepkema’s design blends ergonomic shelving with pendant-lit reading nooks, optimizing quick grabs of bestsellers and magazines while fostering moments of discovery. The book ribbon, a central motif, intuitively guides shoppers through the space, enhancing the journey from gate to getaway.
Tjep.’s Narrative Craft in Retail Design
Like the emotive layers of Clockwork Love and the transformative forms of Chrysalide, AKO Books & Travel reflects Tjep.’s ability to turn functional spaces into storytelling sanctuaries, where the rush of travel meets the quiet pull of a good book.
Turning Pages, One Journey at a Time
Welcoming yet inventive, it proves a bookstore can spark adventure. Explore more of Tjep.’s immersive designs on Tjep.com, where stories take flight.