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More Than Arch Working Space

More Than Arch Studio

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Open working area with soft light - Chao Zhang
Arch wall that guides the route and the light mixed with warm and cold - Chao Zhang
Transitional space to the working area - Chao Zhang
Open working area with soft light - Chao Zhang

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Sponsor
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Small Office
5.14
6.17
5.13
4.99
5.36
Client
More Than Arch Studio
Floor area
110 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
Instagram
Furniture

The design of our office is just the process of sorting out the functional needs, selecting the materials, and presenting them in an appropriate state. Escaping from the complicated theory and redundant expressions, no skills to show off and not luxurious, what we seek for is to be comfortable, decent, practical and durable.

The plan of the office is L-shaped, with a square area at the entrance. Here we erected an arch wall that guides the route to divide the transitional space. The modeling area behind the arch wall can be vaguely seen through the stripe opening on the wall facing the door. The overhanging brass plate below the opening extends the modeling area from inside. The models are placed and replaced freely on this plate, which also displays to the public at the meantime. The space is scaled down by the ceiling and covered in black. The combination of natural light penetration at the end of the corridor and warm light creates a quiet atmosphere.

After crossing the entrance to the main working area, the wide open space appears. It faces southeast near the bay and is bright with plenty of sunshine in the morning. The working area, discussion area, meeting area are lined up and parallel. The open working space is better for communication and collaboration among the team. The open space is also more flexible, making it easier to cope with the future changes. Here we designed a set of big furniture around, which solves the daily needs and frees up the interior space. After the bits and pieces of work and life are sorted and organized by the big furniture, the design work comes to an end. The durable vintage chairs are placed in the meeting area, like a living room at home, you don’t need to sit upright to discuss or chat. It also meets the daily need for coffee and music. The texture of the oak also balances the warm and cold relationship between the black ceiling and the gray floor. And the wood is also a material that can be recycled.

In one corner of my private working area, the big furniture is transformed into a “tiny house” like space, small but big enough for my napping and reading. The wall and the ceiling recess in a box-like shape at the corner of the “tiny house”, which likes a high window. I call it a “light box”. The morning daylight penetrates through the eastern openings of the box, slightly changing over the time. As night falls, the light hidden at the top of the box is illuminated and spread evenly outwards through the acrylic panel behind it. The light penetrates from outside during the daytime, and spills from inside during the nighttime, which completes the conversion between the natural and artificial light in the box. The inspiration for this detail comes from my accidental discovery – the proximity of the studio building to my home makes it possible to glimpse the “light box” from our bedroom at home. So, every night I spend in the studio, the light becomes the bond between me and home.

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