After being invited by WARM STUDIO, say architects is dedicated to constructing an office headquarter located on top of Infinitus Plaza in Guangzhou. As for the project, it has helped the six departments affiliated WARM STUDIO to create the brand-new office space, at the same time, it is also the new exploration of the edge of the urban working. As for the Infinitus Plaza in Guangzhou, it is the posthumous work of Zaha Hadid who is the famous architect in Britain. Moreover, it is situated in the original site of Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, as well as the landmark architecture toward the central business zone of Baiyun district.
01 Fashion based on digital social media
FREE WORK / BASIC WORK/ NO WORK
The virtual world plays a more and more crucial part in human life along with the rapid development of science and technology. In such a background, mobile phones have become the indispensable items for people to enter such digital world. Therefore, the prospecting and conception related to mobile phones in the future will trigger the pondering of the group on bags design. Everything is wrapped in bags in the past, however, bags are merely required to hold a mobile phone now. In the future, they will just be the decorative accessories. Say architects also proposes the concept specified as “exploring the edge of the urban working” for the group space which has been newly constructed regarding to the “fashion based on digital social media” concept proposed by WARM STUDIO.
In terms of the traditional office space, it takes output value as the objective, which makes the per capita area limited inside each work unit. Nonetheless, the current working modes for different work categories and different age groups are undergoing gradual transformations with the youth-oriented employment in companies. Firstly, the space is further split into three elliptical belts from inside to the outside dimensions on the basis of work freedom which are respectively the FREE WORK, BASIC WORK and NO WORK accordingly.
BASIC WORK: it further contains six major departments and 104 fixed units whose daily office forms are basically maintained.
FREE WORK: it is consisted by a clockwise circular flow line which is located in the center and used for meeting the demands of different departments, as well as carrying different auxiliary spaces, including various multi-functional spaces for reception, short meeting, discussion, exhibition planning, meal and so on.
NO WORK: it is based on the veranda created for active sunlight shading which is covered by two runways. They play the parts of leisure and exercise for employees in off-work hours.
02 Central plaza for office
When you enter the elevator hall, you are seemingly within the central square of the city. Then, the symmetrical street lights will lead people to the city center along the axis. The inspiration for the creation of wall surface comes from Taotao bags of the group. There are symmetrical and round shapes, the folded seams with hardware hidden inside, which is able to eliminate the human traces to the greatest extent. These bag elements are made into the urban texture in the square by say architects. Moreover, the cut-parts of walls are equally folded by the internal corners while they are polished well by the external corners. Nearly all the design logic on site is the manifestation of brand bags manufacturing.
03 Being the home furniture, as well as artistic sculpture
There is the first node of square for FREE WORK by the right side of the door and it is the space for break enclosed by two parent-child screens. When functioning as the space for guest reception, it also functions as small discussion area. At night, it is considered as the public art in the square center in diffuse reflection environment.
04 The free and flexible office region
The first area reached is the FREE WORK area for the marketing and E-commerce departments. The continuous partition walls provide a relatively private space for group decision-making discussions or conference calls, while creating a calm and peaceful spatial atmosphere for the promenade stretching into the office area.
The area between FREE WORK and BASIC WORK consists of several glass boxes with translucent partition glass to ensure good light and create a stable private space.
Efficiency is an implicitly crucial factor for companies. Transparent decision making and circulation of information invariably increase the efficiency of corporate rotation. All solid wall surfaces in the BASIC WORK area are covered by felt panels, which helps to provide a visual solution for the circulation of information in all departments.
05 Social opportunities within the square
The design department with its boardroom is located at the heart of the square. The special nature of the department makes it a townhouse along the street with a separate access control system, but the huge curved glass windows show the creativity and handicrafts to the audience in the square. Distinguished from the traditional square tables and panels, the wavy tables and panels at the entrance are like amenities in a park, creating space not only for design workshops, but also a vibrant way to socialize in the WARM STUDIO community.
06 Walk into the home in design department
Compared with other departments, the design department will have more customized display cabinets and storage space. What is hidden behind the designers' units is a large number of hidden display cabinets with felt-covered doors, which is flexibly adapted to the discussion needs of different groups.
Say Architects keep each concrete pillar in the space and encourages every body to create them according to the character and habits of their respective departments. The picture shows the “rainbow pillar” made by the design department from the leftover leather material.
The modular display cabinets at the entrance of the design department are specially customized by Say Architect based on the design department's habit of leather, hardware and books usage. They are made of solid and durable multi-layers and metal, providing users with more abundant storage space.
07 The flexible ARTWAY
The north side of FREEWORK is the ARTWAY space which is served by rotatable track lights, simulated sky light structure and diffuse lighting system. Except that, the brand display, RUNWAY, WORKSHOP and even dinner party will be held in this flexible space, which has become the offline space for the brand's cultural output to a large extent.
08 Human-oriented lighting design
The lighting system in the site is designed by YAANK lighting design. Based on the environment of the natural square, the lighting design takes into account the requirements of employees from three aspects: natural light, human-oriented lighting and sustainable lighting to shape a lighting environment that is functional, comfortable and artistic.
The wall lamps are similar to the street lamps in the square which can automatically light up at night with 3000K warm light effect, providing the space with the illumination degree through the diffuse reflection of the ceiling and walls.
The inner ring lighting system that mimics the sky light is placed on one side of the curtain wall, which makes the light appear to be coming from outside the window. Even when someone is looking up and seeing the fixture, there is still a feeling of skylight seemingly. This deceptive sensory experience plays a vital role in human mood and health from both visual and mental needs, indirectly enhancing productivity and creativity.
The light ring around FRRE WORK not only simulates the lighting environment of sunlight, but also create the feeling that the intention is derived as an energy ring being charged, just like the sun rising in the east and setting in the west with energy source coming endlessly. Echoing the change of color temperature in a day, the color temperature and illumination are changing every one hour. It is expected that the visual effect of lighting can tell every employee that the development of the company is closely related to each employee, so everyone is the contributor of the energy.
09 Everyone is the artist in the city
The grey space outside the office is the NO WORK region, consisting of a plastic running track and two hard paved surfaces that connect the various entrances and exits of the office on one side and a landscaped roof deck on the other side. NO WORK provides users with excellent views and a place for aerobic activities.
The mountainous city images in Baiyun district are framed into paintings by the constructional curves with super tension through the glass curtain walls. Each one is going through repeatedly in the paintings, so they are not only the audience of these paintings, but also the creators of these paintings, as well as the participants in the city undergoing rapid changes day and night. The light and shadow of the outer corridor tell the past and the future of the city, link the city and nature at the same time, which can greatly relieve the working pressure of people.
10 Sense of happiness easily obtained
From the perspective of enterprises, it is conductive to its long-term development if there is a stable staff structure and efficient office state lasting for long term. However, basic logic of them highlights the enhancement of sense of happiness for space users. G-loop aims at creating a sustainable and happy office space by exploring the office environment in cities on the basis of sharing, circulation and nature.
Team:
Interior design: Say Architects
Chief designers: Zhang Yan, Shan Jianan
Team: Luo Xiao, Sun Ziyi, Chu Shuang (intern)
Lighting design consultant: YAANK lighting design
Constructed by: Shanghai Zhonggeng Decoration Corp
Photography and video shot: Yang Junning
