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Silent Black

Zinc Studio

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Bronze

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Sponsor
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Small Office
5.81
6.27
5.87
5.27
5.81
Sandra Adrian Asplund
Sandra Adrian Asplund Creative Director at Asplund Collection Stockholm
7.58
7.3
7.51
6.19
7.15
Paulo Rocha
Paulo Rocha Partner at  KPMB Architects
6
6
6
5
5.75
Ricardo Seola
Ricardo Seola Creative Director and Photography Professor at Ricardo Seola and NABA Milano
5.95
7.02
6.81
4.17
5.99
Frederik Bellermann
Frederik Bellermann Strategic Marketing Manager at Wilkhahn Wilkening+Hahne
4.74
5.67
5
5.24
5.16
Nathan Allen
Nathan Allen Head of Global Sustainability Programs & Partnerships at Google
6.12
6.65
5.91
5.08
5.94
Ava Watson
Ava Watson Multidisciplinary Designer at Ava Watson
6.24
6.38
6.45
5.81
6.22
Luisa Norbis
Luisa Norbis Interior Designer and Journalist at Luisa Norbis
5
5
5
5
5
Guillermo Blanco
Guillermo Blanco Design Director at Worldesignteam
6.02
6.52
5.45
5.67
5.92
Wang Xiaodong
Wang Xiaodong Principal at Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute
4.02
4.11
4.37
4.29
4.2
Virginia Lung
Virginia Lung Design Director at One Plus Partnership
6.45
8.09
6.2
6.24
6.75
Designer
Client
Zinc Studio
Floor area
100 ㎡
Completion
2021

The design is dominated by black. Like the bass in a music ensemble, it resonates well with the other materials, textures and forms within the space. The black walls are adorned with 3.3m high fiber strips, which reinforces the grand scale of this industrial style office, while presenting a detailed articulation of the designed space. The straight strips can also mask any hint of a door in the wall. The straight line texture, embedded in black, provides a great backdrop for a working space that is unified, consistent and simple. Polished concrete and cast iron are other shades of black that we utilized for flooring and a center island table in the kitchen. They further add to the industrial touch of the workspace: strong and durable, a great representation of the work ethic of the office. 

Like the night in a starry sky, black is also a mute, yet potent color. It sets a great undertone for other elements to shine through. Within our black context, the rooms are separated by moru glass panels with straight strips sand-blasted in. The partition door glows as the light penetrates through the translucent glass, creating a sense of privacy while bringing just the right amount of natural light to the work space. Right at the entrance, our glowing logo hangs on a black cast iron panel, dramatically lighting the way for visiting clients, as they go through the massive revolving glass door. 

Like a blackboard, black is also a great way to hold and present information. Being a mute color, it is flexible enough to hold different uses and character of the space. For fellow co-workers, the office is their living space, equipped with a kitchen, reading room and a TV. For the visitors, the office is an exhibition space. Designer chairs, furniture and different innovative materials are oftentimes brought in as sample displays, yet our black interior settings are always quiet enough to complement these exhibits, further adding values to the products.