The Chinese character “十” (Shí) is simple yet rich in contours, with a horizontal line intersecting a vertical one, echoing the main concept of this project – “interweaving”. By magnifying this concept, the project emphasizes the orthogonal shapes of the design and the diverse mix of materials, creating structural tension.
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Global Future Design Awards 2024
十 (Shi)
Corporate and Office Interior (Built)
Firm
Qiang Design
Architect/Designer
Wang Qiangli
Design Team
Qiang Design Team
Location
Wenzhou, Zhejiang
Country
China
Photographer/Copyright
©Zhang Jianing
Website
N/A
Instagram
N/A
The client is an experienced entrepreneur in the construction industry, needing to relocate their office to a more expansive space to accommodate growth.
Youthfulness represents vitality of mindset, while rigor signifies maturity of character. Innovative and bold design merges these qualities seamlessly. Long metal countertops span across both sides of the reception area, revealing the essence of the structure as if glimpsed through packaging. Textured white uneven stone veneer juxtaposed with smooth silver metal creates a striking texture clash.
Overhead horsehair lamps reintroduce the concept of “interweaving” in an artistic manner, enhancing the dynamism of the space. Extensive white stone walls echo the base while balancing the overall spatial tone with contrasting wood paneling. The diverse use of materials reflects the architectural firm’s distinctive characteristics.
A conference room on the left side of the reception area features automatic revolving doors. During non-meeting hours, these doors can be closed to function as a wooden wall, guiding people towards the office area on the right. Opening the doors during meetings forms a matrix, enhancing the architectural feel of the space and subtly emphasizing the seriousness of work.
02 Harmony of Light and Shadow
People often work more energetically in brightly lit office environments. Therefore, office personnel enjoy positions with good natural light, and corridors are designed along the wall. Floor-to-ceiling frosted glass outside individual offices enhances a sense of translucency, connecting spaces with soft light, balancing privacy with interaction. Microcement flooring and wood grain walls neutralize the oppressive feel of the vast space.
To alleviate the narrowness caused by the long corridors in the original L-shaped layout, designers opted for extensive black mirrored ceilings. Reflected light illuminates the corridor space, dispersing dimness and breaking monotony. Magnetic track lights cleverly integrated with mirrored panels enhance the spatial structure, highlighting a pioneering and fashionable aesthetic.
Rows of white stone walls along one side of the corridor convey the architectural firm’s unique inner tension, maintaining interest while guiding office personnel into work areas, ensuring clear circulation paths.
03 Interweaving Threads
The suspended ceiling in the open office area adopts a woven lighting interlace approach. Building upon the original ceiling, it incorporates semi-enclosed metal structures complemented by distinctive lighting fixtures, creating a three-dimensional, layered ceiling. To conceal visually heavy beams, designers utilize lighting to transform them into decorative “lighting tools”. The effect of hollowed-out ceilings integrates beams, lights, and pipes into a cohesive grid-like pattern. The ceiling also allows for practical adjustments with lights that can be added, removed, or relocated based on occupancy and desk layout. This intricate interplay subtly emphasizes the close relationship between space and its occupants, evolving towards harmonious coexistence. “拾横搭竖” (Interweaving Threads) represents the simple initial action that, when multiplied by countless foundational movements, constructs everything.