ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. The Underwater offices in Shanghai, China by 100architectsSeptember 25th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: 100architects 100architects was commissioned by Club Med to design their new office space in Shanghai. The French company was moving its Asia-Pacific Headquarter to the recently finished Bund Financial Center, at The Bund, designed by Foster + Partners & Heatherwick Studio.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar
 Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar Club Med is specialized in the market of all-inclusive holidays, with many vacation villages and resorts in the most exotic and breathtaking destinations around the World. From the very first meetings with them, they state very clearly that Club Med is an unconventional company, and their new office should reflect extravagancy, presenting themselves as a young & fresh company. Therefore, when brainstorming about the concept idea, the first thought in which we all agreed was to design an office that inspires vacations, holidays, and reflects the happiness that one feels when arriving to a new sunny destination at the sea.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar Although the scope of work included the design of the entire office, Club Med specifically requested to have special accent in 2 main areas: the signature Lobby, which would be the space in charge of offering a very good first impression to clients and visitors alike; and the Pantry, which should be understood as a social space for employees, rather than just a pantry to have coffee or breakfast. Informal gatherings and team building activities were intended to take place in the social Pantry.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar Based on a Mediterranean feelings of holidays, which is swimming, the Lobby was conceptualized to mimic a swimming pool, in which visitors would be submerged under water. To create this illusion, a deep blue elevated pipe was designed to be hanging overheads, looping around the lobby defining different mini-areas within the lobby area. The shape of the pipe is at the same time projected onto the floor, in order to enhance the virtual subdivision of the space, having 2 different materials on both sides of the projected pipe: blue PVC carpet as the pool water, and PVC Wood flooring as the deck around the pool.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar The result is a multifunctional (but virtually subdivided) space in which each loop offers a mini-function, such as a reception desk, meeting room, waiting area, informal meeting spaces, hanging phone booths, etc… The Pantry was designed to be as functional as possible having into account the diversity of activities that it would host. As main features, a long yellow kitchen was designed to solve all the practical needs of cooking, storing, coffee making, etc, in the same space, while a wooden mini-amphitheater was located at the end of the space in order to provide enough seating areas for hosting communal activities or public speeches.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar The working areas where solved with an open office typology, in order to foster relationships among employees and directors. Functionally efficient, working spaces count not only with long communal working tables, but also with private offices with glass partitions, enhancing transparency and bringing natural light to all corners. Hanging greenery has been also included as a good mood generator.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar Special mention for the 2 pieces of signature furniture designed for the open office in order to provide platforms for interactions among employees. Their morphology defines other mini-functions such as team briefings, small workshops, informal meetings, etc.  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © Amey Kandalgaonkar  Image Courtesy © 100architects
Contact 100architects
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
email
Facebook
Twitter
RSS Feed
