Office Reconstruction Project at Putuo District, Shanghai

This project aimed to reconstruct an office in a high-rise building. The original space was inadequate, with multiple irregular shapes and dead spaces.

The client wanted the designers to transform it into a place where its staff can take a breath of nature behind the reinforced concrete walls. The client also specifically required the designers to spare the space at the office entrance for meetings and negotiations, which made the rest of the work area an irregular triangle.

To maximise the irregular space, the designers creatively converted this disadvantage into the highlight of the project by using irregular curves. The three sides are designed to naturally spread around the centre of the area, thereby creating a streamlined layout without any dead space.

The designers abandoned the idea of traditional cubicles. Instead, they lined desks and bookshelves in a curved shape alongside the walls and ceiling. The continuous curve divides the office into different spaces, providing people with a completely different transition experience.

Glass partition in the conference room blurs the boundaries of space, which alters the stiff impression of conventional partitions. In addition, the designers made full use of sunny windows, turning the area by the windows into a free space for exchange and sharing.

A modern twist has been injected into the interior of this traditional office building. A peaceful and pleasant office garden was designed without changing the original structure of the building, connecting the indoor and outdoor areas naturally and creating an open space with natural vitality.

A traditional office is usually a semi-open space. In this project, the office space is divided into various areas in picturesque disorder, interspersed with trees and rocks. The introduction of green plants has brought rhythm and cadence to the office.

The winding entrance makes people feel as if they are straying into a peach blossom garden when entering the office. The plants interspersed between tables enable the employees to feel closer to nature and effectively improve the indoor microclimate and working environment. Here, people can escape the urban fog and haze, and feel as if they are working in a tranquil garden, which allows them to relax in between an intense work day, thereby increasing efficiency.

Plants used are mainly those suitable for growing indoors, such as happy tree (Radermachera hainanensis Merr.), with relatively low ferns and other small plants among them, making every corner full of green.

The extensive use of wood conveys a sense of intimacy. Wood tables and decorations, together with white walls, form rich textural levels. Bookshelves and sofa serve as transitional spaces, while graphic design elements in each functional area enrich the visual experience.

PROJECT DATA
Project Name: Office Reconstruction Project at Putuo District, Shanghai
Location: Putuo District, Shanghai, China
Completion Date: February 2016
Client/Owner: Sissiswondeland
Gross Floor Area: 111 square metres
Interior Design Firm: Muxin Design and Research Studio
Design Team: Zhang Lei; Sun Hao-Chen; Ouyang Bo-Yong; Wang Jie
Lighting Consultant: Yves Zhang
Interior Fit-Out Contractor: Muxin Design and Research Studio
Images: Zhang Da-Qi