Decorated to evoke an adventure playground, 9¾ Bookshop & Café in the Colombian city of Medellin appeals to adults as much as children.

Selling books to kids sometimes involves squeezing the offer into an area where the children won’t disturb adults too much, and where a sense of a separate shop-in-shop can be fostered.

Not so at 9¾ Bookshop & Café in the Colombian city of Medellin.

This 1,300 sq ft store, designed by consultancy Plasma Nodo, is aimed squarely at children while at the same time providing an environment that will appeal to the adults who accompany them.

The standout feature is a mid-shop wall made of wood in which hexagonal “hideaway” spaces with padded seating create the ambiance of adventure playground.

The café itself is backed by a narrow, floor-to-ceiling bookcase, giving a display element that reinforces the idea that this really is a shop that’s about reading, even if it takes a non-standard form.

And the Harry Potter reference in the store name does all that’s needed to set the scene for young readers.