Verdant Openness: Redefining a Health & Beauty Office Space
In the current context of consumer culture, the Health & Beauty industry is undergoing profound transformations, with new brand philosophies continuously emerging. However, we still find ourselves in an environment that rarely challenges traditional concepts or fosters innovative reinterpretations. Concepts like “work” and related spatial definitions urgently call for fresh perspectives and designs.
This Health & Beauty brand is rooted in a philosophy of reconnecting with nature and exploring one’s primal self. It seeks to shape its brand identity from a deep, spiritual level to resonate profoundly with consumers, forming the core logic behind its development. Located in the Community Center of Xinhua Road in Shanghai, this project finds its home in a historic neighborhood that echoes the passage of time and tells the stories of bygone eras. The area still preserves the legacy of masterpieces by renowned architects such as László Hudec, whose creations are discreetly nestled within its streets. As the micro-regeneration plan progresses, Xinhua Road is revitalized into a vibrant hub, attracting young creatives.
Against this backdrop, Shang Interior Architects was tasked with designing the office space for the brand, aiming to embody its inner essence through spatial design. The result not only harmonizes with the cultural atmosphere of its surroundings but also redefines the conventional understanding of “work,” restoring the fundamental needs of individuals in their daily endeavors.
Redefining Workspaces
“At its core, ‘work’ is a value-creating activity with tangible rewards. For modern individuals, it is also a fundamental means of connection and joy. We aim to disrupt the traditional ‘service/subordination’ dynamic in workplace relationships and restore the idea of equality between creators and co-builders,” states the brand. This philosophy laid the foundation for Shang Interior Architects’ design approach.
In this workspace, Shang Interior Architects breaks away from the rigid norms of traditional office layouts by deconstructing and reorganizing the original structure. The goal was to create an unrestricted, fluid, and exploratory environment that fosters interaction between space and its users. By encouraging seamless activity and diverse collaboration, the design also addresses the essential needs of individual productivity. The original site was constrained by inadequate lighting and limited openness due to surrounding buildings and lush greenery. In response, Shang Interior Architects renovated the western façade, introducing windows to break the visual confinement, connecting the space to the terrace, and inviting natural light indoors. The exposed ceiling design mitigates the sense of oppression, enhancing the space’s transparency and dynamism. This transformation not only achieves cross-ventilation from three directions but also allows the verdant exterior to flow inward, creating an office atmosphere that resonates with nature and actively engages one’s senses.
In terms of functionality, the layout balances the dual requirements of experimentation and creativity. Unlike conventional designs that confine laboratories and meeting rooms to separate, enclosed spaces, the brand’s operational model leans toward a more flexible, dynamic, and collaborative approach. The design challenge lay in translating this philosophy into a cohesive spatial solution within limited square footage. Shang Interior Architects resolved this by merging seemingly disparate functions into an open, versatile central creative core. The core serves as the engine of innovation and the nerve center for the office, embodying the brand’s working methodology in a tangible form.
The Creative Core
Positioned at the heart of the space, this creative core functions as the nucleus for team research, collaboration, and co-creation. Here, experimentation, discussion, and ideation seamlessly converge.
Surrounding the core, all work areas remain open, and even the founder’s desk is integrated into the communal zone, eliminating hierarchical barriers and promoting real-time communication and idea exchange. The fluid and open nature of the design disrupts conventional office hierarchies, fostering a shared and equitable work ecosystem.
The creative core is meticulously designed to balance flexibility and functionality. During the early planning stages, Shang Interior Architects explored two primary configurations: a transparent, three-dimensional box and a system of sliding whiteboard partitions enclosing the core. The final design combines elements of both, incorporating adaptable metal walls and magnetic surfaces for posting materials, alongside suspended whiteboard systems that facilitate instant ideation and display.
The design of the core area serves as both a focal point of the space and a sanctuary for inspiration, seamlessly blending form and functionality. It establishes a creative environment that balances rational order with emotional ingenuity, transforming abstract and complex scientific and research concepts into tangible and approachable expressions.
The Dynamics of Space
The spatial flow emphasizes freedom and adaptability, challenging the fixed layouts and rigid circulation of traditional offices. Workstations are seen as vessels for thought, accommodating scattered and dynamic workflows while preserving continuity in personal projects.
Individuals are encouraged to spread out their work, ensuring better connectivity and progression of ideas. Features like bar-style communal tables in the pantry, window-side niches, and flexible meeting rooms with sliding doors enable diverse working styles. Workers can sit, stand, or lean within the space, maintaining productivity without spatial constraints. This design nurtures a focused, immersive, and calm state, meeting one of the key objectives of the workspace.The external meeting room is no longer a closed space. The four-panel sliding doors can either separate or fully open the area, creating a more dynamic and engaging work environment. This design of freedom and fluidity enables creativity and communication to flourish in every corner.
The design also introduces three terraces, each with distinct functions and characteristics. The creative hub overlooks a terrace enveloped in lush greenery, extending the space into a natural retreat. The north-facing balcony serves as an ideal venue for team gatherings and bonding, while the pantry’s smaller terrace connects the office to the surrounding community, fostering interaction with the outside world.
Surface and Materiality
Upon entering the space, visitors are greeted by light-green embossed steel flooring that aligns seamlessly with the brand’s aesthetic, paired with metallic ceilings. The partially revealed interior evokes a sense of mystery and intrigue, sparking the curiosity of visitors. Passing through the slightly lowered entrance hall, the space opens up dramatically into expansive work zones interwoven with a multifunctional central island. The greenery visible through the windows creates a serene yet vibrant atmosphere, uplifting the mood and adding a touch of tranquility.
Except for the enclosed storage and restroom areas, all other zones are designed with an open layout. The walls and ceilings do not fully meet, fostering a sense of spatial fluidity throughout.
The material palette enhances the sense of lightness and coherence. Soft gray tones dominate the walls, while columns in muted green reflect the brand’s affinity for natural aesthetics. The flooring combines terrazzo and embossed steel, striking a balance between rationality and organic warmth.
Playful accents like pantry cabinets, custom desk legs, support pillars, and mobile side tables inject subtle energy into the understated backdrop.
The creative core, distinct from the surrounding areas, features natural-colored embossed steel flooring that signals its scientific and experimental purpose. Contrasting this is a central birchwood table, adding a touch of warmth and humanity to the otherwise tech-oriented environment.
This table anchors team discussions and interactions, while the open-top wall design allows daylight to flow freely throughout the space. At night, the hub transforms into a dramatic stage-like centerpiece, embodying the soul of the workspace.
The custom-designed mobile storage cabinets, tailored specifically for the brand, cleverly address storage needs. Each shelf’s height is meticulously adjusted to accommodate experimental samples. By employing a thoughtful storage design, the cabinets ensure accessibility, internal order, and spatial fluidity, fostering an uninterrupted and seamless workflow experience. Additionally, the storage units serve as spatial dividers, maintaining visual transparency throughout the office. All birchwood panel joints within the space utilize a custom mortise-and-tenon structure, reflecting precision and craftsmanship. Through these ingenious design elements, Shang Interior Architects has created an open space brimming with limitless possibilities, where creativity flows freely in every corner.
Through thoughtful design, Shang Interior Architects has redefined the conventional office, creating an artistic, fluid, and liberating environment that supports creativity. By blending elements of nature, community, and dynamic work modes, the space becomes a perpetual dialogue between time, seasons, and individuals. Here, the verdant openness welcomes ideas to flourish freely, inspiring endless possibilities.
Team:
Design Firm: Shang Interior Architects
Lead Designers: Gu Xihan, Lu Yingfu
Design Team: Sun Ying, Wu Wenxin (CG Representation)
Spatial Staging: Huang Lanting
Construction: Shanghai Longyun Decoration Design Engineering Co., Ltd.
Primary Materials: Embossed Steel, Terrazzo, Textured Stainless Steel, Birchwood
Photography: Hu Yanyun, Yu Shuyang, Lu Yingfu
Content Writing: Kong Qiushi, Gu Xihan
