Project Overview

This project is by CSJS.DESIGN, situated within a high-rise building in Zhejiang Province, China, aims to create a serene and inspiring space for creators, where one can work, communicate, and even indulge in a drink, but overtime is strictly off-limits. After considering the potential activities within this space, the CSJS.The DESIGN team chose to forgo the pursuit of novel visual experiences, and instead, focus on emotions. We believe that wisdom hidden in shadows and uncertainty can spark inspiration.

Project Commissioner

CSJS DESIGN

Project Creator

CSJS DESIGN

Team

Lijun Ding, Liyang Ding

Project Brief

Several interconnected functional zones surround the centrally positioned offices, serving as their supportive functions. The transparent glass panels create reflections, rendering the separated space boundaries subtle and indistinct. To foster interaction and engagement across various zones, we have optimized the open layout within the limited space, emphasizing communal attributes and blurring the boundaries between different areas. We have relocated the two offices, which were originally positioned by the window, to the central part of the layout, leaving the window-side area vacant as a communal zone. This adjustment not only enhances openness but also allows the outside view and natural light to permeate the interior, creating a shared experience for all areas.

Project Innovation/Need

The Brutalism-inspired design technique retains the height of the space while discreetly concealing some utilities and beams. In certain areas, multiple requirements are ingeniously overlapped through staggered usage, ensuring that the space is both compact and fully functional while exuding a sense of expansiveness. Due to the ample natural lighting in this space, the design attempts to share some of it with the external public passageways through frosted glass. The use of frosted glass also allows the interior to sense the activities of individuals outside; with each visitor's arrival, it possesses the interior with a sense of foresight.

Design Challenge

Due to the original building's insufficient height, the ceiling height in this project was only 2.6 meters. To achieve greater height, we removed the existing flat ceiling, increasing it to 3.4 meters. However, this exposed beams, which posed a new issue (as certain areas touched upon Chinese cultural taboos regarding Feng Shui). To address this, we added false beams and covered the original beams with gypsum boards, creating a coffered ceiling effect. This solution not only preserved the 3.4-meter ceiling height but also resolved the beam issue visually, creating a unified aesthetic.

Sustainability

This project follows principles of environmental protection and sustainability. Natural wood is not used as wall decoration material, and the large-scale paints used are environmentally friendly. In spatial layout planning, efforts are made to minimize the widespread use of air conditioning by separating high-usage and low-usage spaces, thus reducing energy consumption.

Interior Design - International Co-Working & Studio Space

This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
More Details