Warner Music Beijing
Product Spec Sheet

ElementBrandProduct Name
Flooring - Sphera Element OliveForbo Flooring Systems
SofaBLU DOT
Vinyl flooringInterface
A00208 Sand Dune
Wood FinishFormica Group
0861 Olive Afromosia
Armchairs&Tradition
CATCH chair, CATCH lounge chair
3 Seater SofaHAY
Mags

Product Spec Sheet
Flooring - Sphera Element Olive
Vinyl flooring
A00208 Sand Dune by Interface
Wood Finish
0861 Olive Afromosia by Formica Group
Armchairs
CATCH lounge chair by &Tradition
3 Seater Sofa
Mags by HAY

Warner Music Beijing

Bean Buro as Architects

"Music Courtyards"

Warner Music Beijing

 

"We wanted to create an intuitive and sociable workplace for music-related activities. We put together a colourful and elegant materials palette that feels dynamic but mature and elite. " – Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, co-founder of Bean Buro

 

"The idea was to create a sense of neighbourhood as a 'courtyard', enclosed by large windows out to the city views with supporting functions in a warm timber backdrop." – Lorène Faure, co-founder of Bean Buro

 

Brief: A sociable workplace for music activities

Bean Buro was tasked with designing an innovative workplace for Warner Music in Beijing, China that would support their unique needs. This new environment consists of holistic spatial compositions, telling the story of a cross-cultural business that reflects on wellbeing and a strong identity to increase employee engagement. 

 

Inspiration: Chinese 'courtyard house' as work neighbourhood

Inspired by the rich history of traditional Chinese courtyard houses, "Siheyuan," the approach to this project was to create a tranquil oasis in the heart of a growing business district of Beijing. The open plan work neighbourhood is conceptualised as a 'courtyard', enclosed by supporting amenities in its backdrop and the building's glass facade with city views and natural daylight.

 

This 'open' plan environment is visually open but is physically divided into various zones for socialising, informal meetings, and collaboration. It has a percentage of unassigned desks easily accessible in each zone. 

 

Spatial Composition: An intuitive environment for music artists

Upon entering the office, visitors are greeted by the front of house encompassed by a dynamic contrast of colours. Visitors are welcomed into the front-of-house which features a LED wall performance stage and a spacious lounge. The flexibility of this space allows for occasions such as company events, impromptu artist performances, and DJ sets. The main stage sits along the white Italian plastered wall, illuminated by the light-filled environment from the windows.

 

An 'artist room' is provided for artists to prepare their wardrobe and makeup. The exterior of this room is clad in high-gloss muted green with the company logo, forms a legible architectural volume in the entrance lounge setting. Deeper in the workplace is another enclosed 'music room' for artists to discuss music in a comfortable acoustic environment; It is padded with square cork panels with a zig-zag pattern, a reminiscent of the roof tiles on a traditional courtyard house.

 

The support spaces are located in the backdrop in a continuous timber finish, forming a warm backdrop for the open workspace.

 

Materials & Colours: Elegant colours on soft materials

This project embraces a woven material palette that incorporates various use of materials such as timber, brushed copper highlights, and herringbone-patterned timber vinyl, which are drawn from the textures of traditional Chinese instruments. The predominant use of wood and exotic choices of materials bring the office warmth and life, while the use of concrete and green vinyl flooring define the areas in the office. 

 

The challenge in this project was maintaining a cohesive use of materials and elements of design while also drawing on the different atmospheres for different zones. To bring together these energetic contrasts of colours and materials, the main timber wall, defined by rhythmic charcoal-painted slats, wraps the workplace physically like a cloister. Recessed track lights highlight the main timber wall as it transits from an entrance wardrobe to a meeting room glass partition, and an art wall display.

 

Bean Buro Team: Lorène Faure, Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, Pauline Paradis, Stephanie Ma

Contractor: A.I.D. Limited

Project Manager: AGW Associates Ltd. 

Client: Warner Music

Location: Beijing, China

Area Size: 7,535sqft (700sqm)

Project Spotlight
Product Spotlight
News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert
18 Mar 2024 News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert

Mumbai-based Sanjay Puri Architects has completed the Nokha Village Community Centre, an architectur... More

Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024
15 Mar 2024 News
Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024

In this Archello series, we look at each of the seven nominated projects (five architecture finalist... More

25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers
15 Mar 2024 Specification
25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers

Mosaic wall tiles are produced in an enormous range of colors, shapes and finishes, and from a varie... More

Introducing Partner Motion Facades
15 Mar 2024 Partner News
Introducing Partner Motion Facades

Motion Facades specializes in supplying advanced facade systems for luxury real estate projects. Its... More

Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel
15 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel

Architects Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores have been an... More

JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements
14 Mar 2024 News
JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements

International architectural firm JSWD has completed the Neuer Kanzlerplatz office complex in the cit... More

Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'
14 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'

Today Archello introduces a new set of Firm Awards categories to widen the scope of the Archello Awa... More

Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes
13 Mar 2024 News
Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes

London-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice Studio Egret West has developed plan... More