Project Site: Shanghai
Project Area: 100 m2
Project Type: Office
Design Date: 2023.11
Team Role: Full Service Design
Project Architect: Minyan Li
Team: Jingxue W, Yan W
Construction: Zange Team
Invisible threshold or division of space is the main challenge for the design of this limited small space for the function of comprehensive use of office and showroom for the Italian brand VIBRAM, which specialize rubber shoe sole inventions and production for various scenarios.
The design layout the functional space into two sides with four categories. The static side, which includes office and reception area, is near the balcony where the views and natural lightings are the best; the dynamic side, which includes workshop and coffee bar, is located near to the entry, in which these functions are more open to public.
Soft partition is therefore applied in between these two sides, or among these four categories of functions. The design team changes the traditional definition of divisions and uses creative ways to archive the goal of visual partitions, by using ceiling track, rope curtains, and ceiling decorations.
The ceiling tracks divide the static side and dynamic side visually, and also functions as anchor point to the rope curtain and various hanging equipment, it also provides tracks for the sliding partition that slide around the workshop, as well as host transportations of various electric wires.
The rope curtains are assembled with professional climbing ropes that carry astonishing weight. Linear and soft objects are curated by design thoughts to form a plane that breathe through. Brand visual identifications are printed to flag ownership of the space.
The ceiling could not be decorated in full due to concern about fire codes. Thus, partial open ceiling decorations are used to define the most core area of the space, the reception area where business negotiations and talks will take place in a casual and relaxing manner. The star-like pattern of this decorative open framed ceiling is based on one of the most used show sole pattern designs from VIBRAM products.
This project is currently under construction and will be in use by the client by April 2024.
