It’s easy to get lost in a good book; they can transport you to another place, another time, and even other realms. Tokyo-based designer, Monde, has found his own way to take book-lovers to another world with a whimsical art project called Bookshelf Dioramas.

Monde’s project is a series of unique bookends that are inspired by the alleyways of Tokyo. If you’ve ever wandered around Tokyo on foot you’ll know that it can sometimes be like a spiderweb of side streets and back alleys. It’s also one of the things that makes Tokyo so unique.

Bookends are an easy and practical way to organize your shelf, but that doesn’t mean they need to be boring. While they appear as plain boxes from either side, the centre of each reveals an incredible display of urban details.

Each miniature scene features the trappings of a real back alley. A closer inspection shows the intricate stepping stones, A/C units, piping, plants and other details that have been carefully recreated by hand. The Bookshelf Dioramas come in a pair and can be used together to replicate a small back alley or used individually.

Monde’s bookends were on display at Design Festa, a Tokyo-based arts & crafts event where both amateur and professional artists come together to exhibit their work. If you’re interested in purchasing the alley-inspired items, you can contact Monde via Twitter.

Source: https://www.archdaily.com/907146/these-crafted-bookends-are-inspired-by-the-alleyways-of-tokyo