For our second project with Warner Music Hong Kong, we were tasked with the new challenge of reaching an even higher level of articulation and further promoting the dynamic activities within the company. 

The new workplace contains the previous designs’ DNA, such as a multifunctional welcoming reception for events, with a clear line of sight to the city skyline in the backdrop. A large LED wall, a raised platform, a DJ booth, and movable lounge furniture allow the space to be used as a performance event space. At the same time, we would satisfy the company’s desire to reach for a higher level of sophistication through the workplace’s design. 

We were inspired by the idea of the large volume within the large floor plate representing a “music box” that contains all the collaboration functions with flexible spaces. The music box would contain various spaces, including the boardroom and a game room with a pool table, which can be accessed by operable glass partitions facing a long window that leads to a pantry with café booths around the back of the volume. 

A wide variety of work settings are incorporated into the workplace, including collaboration areas, small meeting rooms, in-wall cafe seats, lounges, and phone booths. We celebrated the joy of music through a palette of colourful materials. Each meeting room has a different coloured concept, expressed through the choice of acoustic fabric wall panels, wall coverings and loose furniture. We created a large bespoke curvy rug carpet in an orange tan gradient effect to stimulate energy for the social area. Another curvy rug is in the recording studio with a reflective shape in the ceiling that functions as a 3D ceiling acoustic panel. 

We explored several innovative acoustic solutions for this project, such as 3D acoustic panels for all walls in meeting areas and acoustic ceiling panels for some enclosed meeting lounges. We created a bespoke curvy ceiling panel for the recording studio and devised an inverted fluting detail for the timber walls to scatter and absorb sound within the recording studio, reducing reverberation throughout the room. We worked with a specialist acoustic consultant to ensure all the partitioning provides high-performance acoustic separation between all the different zones for either focused working or livelier activities—something essential for a workplace of this nature. 

Copious amounts of vegetation have been planted across the workplace to improve well-being as biophilic elements. We also ensured all employees would have good access to natural daylight and views. We created small artificial skylights above some of the collaboration areas that would otherwise be shaded due to being farther in the floor plate to create an airier feel. We specified high grade environmentally friendly products wherever possible, such as a carpet made from recycled fishnets, which we used for the offices, and acoustic panels also made from recycled materials.