The Breath of Space
MARS Studio was commissioned by the owner, has undertaken the transformation and renovation of the second-floor space of the Jiaming Center, an international super A-grade office building in Beijing. The layout of Jiaming Center resembles a sandwich structure: the outer layer facing the external windows serves as office space, the inner layer near the core is arranged for auxiliary functions, and a public corridor runs in between. The transparent axial linear circulation along the corridor creates a breathing sensation in the office space.
The main entrance is located on the side of the main elevator hall, while the secondary entrance is on the side of the commercial elevator. Upon entering the foyer, the warm wooden background wall catches the eye, creating a juxtaposition with the glass partitions on both sides and establishing the overall ambiance of the space. The negotiation area and Pantry are placed at the ends of the entrance, and an L-shaped public corridor connects various office spaces and auxiliary areas. Meeting rooms, phone booths, and other supporting spaces are linearly arranged along the side of the corridor.
Inspiration from the Infinite Corridor
The Infinite Corridor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) connects buildings across various disciplines, allowing students, professors, and researchers to move seamlessly between different academic fields, fostering academic exchange and collaboration. The Infinite Corridor serves as the core of MIT's academic community, hosting social events, exhibitions, and gatherings, and symbolizing MIT's pursuit of knowledge and exploration in the field of science.
Inspired by the "Infinite Corridor," the originally overlooked corridors in our design have become a focal point. We have discarded the chaotic arrangement of traditional corridor ceiling tube lights and spotlights. Instead, we have implemented a design featuring a single, ultra-long suspended light line connecting theends of the corridor, illuminating the entire public corridor space.
The use of ultra-clear glass partitions on both sides of the corridor not only reduces visual obstructions between rooms but also enhances the transparency and cleanliness of the corridor. Simultaneously, the implementation of bidirectional gradient films ensures the privacy of space utilization.
The transformed corridor is not merely a passageway; it has evolved into a space anticipating the collision of ideas. Display cabinets on the walls, open tea areas, and corner artworks allow for chance encounters and encourage informal communication at any time. People can pause, converse, turning it into a hub for space communication and interaction. Such a design not only sparks innovation and collaboration within the office space but also serves as a link for communication between different departments.
Immersive Illumination
At the entrance foyer, concealed light strips above the glass partitions and below the elevated floor are directed upwards and downwards, respectively. Along with the ceiling lighting design, they collectively create the visual lighting effects of the foyer. This lighting approach establishes a light and airy "linear" feel, contrasting with the spatial "solidity" and reducing the visual perception of heaviness brought by massing.
Above the corridor, the main light source relies on an extended suspended light line floating in the air, while linear light strips behind the metal band above the glass act as supplementary sources, collectively illuminating and creating the corridor's lighting ambiance. This systematic arrangement of lighting not only contributes to a cleaner and more concise ceiling but also enables individuals within it to quickly transition between states. It encourages the office population to linger in the corridor, fostering an immersive sense of involvement, adapting to the free interchange between different spatial roles, and promoting more communication and interaction.
Inside the office, each desk is equipped with intelligent eye-friendly linear lights, featuring top and bottom illumination. This design not only frees up the layout of the ceiling but also eliminates the clutter of traditional office ceiling lighting. It allows people to enjoy a more comfortable, pleasant, and sophisticated office environment.
Emotional expression of Material
In the tightly ordered array of architectural structures, within the somewhat distant forest of steel and concrete, when people grow weary of these surroundings, what office spaces require is an environment that is closer to life, one that embodies a more personalized and warm experiential ambiance.
Light serves as the primary language in our design. The transparent space welcomes light into the interior, quietly weaving a dappled tapestry of light and shadow in the corridor. As time progresses, the interplay of light and shadow flows through the space, creating a dialogue between the ethereal and the tangible.
This dialogue results in a unique transformation of the atmosphere, establishing communication and connection between different transparent compartments. The interplay of light and shadow leaves a distinctive impression, full of a sense of exploration and dynamism.
The use of transparent double-layer ultra-clear glass partitions ensures soundproofing and privacy while adding a touch of futuristic technology. The extensive incorporation of "wood" elements in the space not only adds warmth but also imparts a richer and more nuanced texture to the environment. The design, through the emotional expression of various materials, creates comfortable, gentle layers and tactile sensations within the space.
Blurred boundaries of space
From the perspectives of streamlining the office, rationalizing functions, and softening the space, we established early on that boxes of varying scales in the space would be allocated for different functional needs.
The language of massing is no longer confined to a singular three-dimensional structure. Through flexible and blurred partitions, we have eliminated the boundaries between different masses and rooms, eradicating the cold walls within the office space. This imparts the office environment with characteristics reminiscent of "urban public spaces," infusing a gentle and warm color palette into the workspace.
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