Beijing s built environment throws up some illuminating designs
Chaowai SOHO
It s only fitting that the new headquarters of SOHO China, the Chinese development company renowned for its avant-garde architecture, should be a showcase for progressive interior design. Sitting across three levels of the recently completed Chaowai SOHO building in the heart of Beijing s CBD, SOHO China s new workspace has one of the most impressive layouts in the capital, and represents the very antithesis of the pack em and stack em cubicle-driven mentality of many cramped Beijing offices.
Designed by Hugh Zimmern, one of the leading talents behind Hong Kong-based architectural practice Leigh & Orange, SOHO China s new office has only been occupied since late last year. The wooden floors and stairways still have a well-polished sheen, the crisp white walls are blemish-free and the grass on the balcony garden is just starting to grow.
Spacious, light and airy are three hackneyed words in the world of real estate, but in this case they sum up the SOHO China office perfectly. Indeed, it would be hard to find a Beijing office where the space to employee ratio is higher the tastefully decorated communal seating areas, high ceilings, and large, open floor plan make it seem more like an airport lounge than a place for doing business.
Zimmern is clearly happy with the way his design concept has been realized. It s very unusual to find an office so dedicated to communal space. The whole office is designed to engender free thinking and communication, and the lounge areas are perfect for formal and informal meetings. He says.
Natural light plays a big part in making the SOHO China office such an attractive and energy efficient workspace. Stenciled metal screens on the large outside windows break up the sunlight, throwing kaleidoscopic patterns onto matching carpets and nearby furniture and floors. Together with the use of plants and natural materials, this gives the office a very organic feel, warming the minimalist aesthetic and cleverly linking exterior and interior environments.
At night, the effect of the window screens is also very dramatic. Zimmern explains, There are pronounced variations in the day-to-night character of this office. During the day the light streams inwards, but when it s dark the brightly illuminated interior is seen as very distinctive silhouette from people outside. It s very beautiful and I m really pleased with how it s worked out.
The commodious environment of SOHO China s privileged employees should go a long way to easing the stresses and strains of the working day. For those who need to unwind, however, there is a small gym, and a cavernous table tennis area that comes alive at lunch time. Meanwhile, Spectators can watch from the office restaurant while they feast on healthy snacks and freshly-squeezed juices.
No review of the SOHO China workspace would be complete without mentioning the pigs. Handling multi-million yuan real estate projects may be a high pressure business, but the management have clearly managed to retain their sense of frivolity. Watching over staircases or table tennis tables, the outsized swine lend a playful touch to the d cor, and apparently have a venerable history with the company. With such illustrious guardians to lighten the mood, who could turn up their snout at such a well-balanced office?
