Office

mobile architectural office fuses parisian residential architecture

By Zarkon Group,12/03/2023

mobile architectural office unites parisian urban archetypes

At the intersection of three Parisian urban situations in the heart of the French capital sits Mobile Architectural Office’s multifaceted new residential complex. Comprising six housing units and a commercial space, the project is concealed behind a white ribbed metal skin that unites the characteristic qualities of the city’s neighboring faubourien architecture with discreet modenature, the cohesive neatness of the brick facades, and the classical architectural language reinterpreted by postmodern structures from the 1980s.

Across its five stories, the program configures six dwelling units, including two triplexes on the ground floor, above a commercial space. Each unit is arranged around a central courtyard, its inner facade clad in natural wood, and is served by a communal staircase and exterior landings for shared uses between neighbors.

all images © Cyrille Lallement

6 housing units concealed behind a ribbed metal skin

The site is located at the corner of rue Robert Blache and rue du Terrage. To echo its suburban fabric, the project reinterprets the fusion of faubourienne architecture, compact volumetry, facades ordered by regular vertical openings, discreet modenature, and simple expressions of construction.

On the ground floor on rue Robert Blache, the team at Mobile Architectural Office has injected a strong sense of animation along the streetfront by integrating several retail spaces. Access to the residential flats is created via a bright walk-through hall overlooking the adjacent Rue du Terrage. On the upper floors, all dwellings are double or triple oriented and punctuated with uniform windows offering optimal natural light to inhabitants. Inside, some structural elements of the wooden joinery have been revealed in discreet, natural expressions.

Mobile Architectural Office has developed a structural principle based on both vertical and horizontal prefabricated wood, with solid facades and floors from the Basque Country. This enables low carbon development and efficient construction, allowing the structure to be assembled within ten days. Further, in order to facilitate the large spans in the commercial premise and the relationship with the ground, the structure of the ground floor is made of concrete.

On the roof, a rainwater collection system captures precipitation and feeds the planter above the bicycle room and the green space on the ground floor. A recovery system in the tank supplies the taps in the common areas and all the sanitary facilities.

tiled roofs crown stepped modules of office and cafe space in china

By Zarkon Group,28/02/2023

Xie Ke devises a mixed-use sales office in Chongqing, China

A series of stepped modules, standing under intricate historic tiled roofs, integrate Xie Ke’s new Sales Office into the ‘ladder style’ traditional mountain blocks in Chongqing, China. The building consists of Canopée Café and Sihai Club and adjoins Huguang Club and overlooks East Watergate. The design concept deviates from pure commerciality and focuses on creating social mixed-use spaces which can restore a sense of community and the area all the while raising awareness for the brand’s sales center. Derived from the history of the Huguang region’s urban state, the project is driven by a goal for urban renewal and preservational design, retaining the original structure while breathing new life into the interior under a minimal contemporary renovation plan.

all images by Jonathan Leijonhufvud 雷坛坛

urban renewal project draws from the history of Huguang city

The project centers around fostering relationships between the urban fabric and communities. Over time during the process of urbanization, the upper half of Chongqing city has become an arena for modern architecture, leaving behind memories of the past. Meanwhile, the lower half city is filled with unmaintained antique structures. Seeking to reflect the simplistic culture of Chongqing and to cultivate the collective character of its community, the architect looks to his own memories of the city to devise the design concept – namely its ‘outdoors’ culture where people carry out their daily routines on the streets and in the pockets of the mountainous town, always interacting with neighbors.

As such, the design begins to form a connection between people and previous times, thus incubating and activating the endogenous forces of the city. ‘The steps covered with moss, Huguang Club standing still over time, the to-and-fro ropeway across the river, the close connection between houses and streets… All the characteristic memories of Chongqing were properly placed in people’s vision and became the background color of [the project]… and also the design basis of Xie Ke.’

the unmaintained antique structures of Chongqing stand under intricate historic tiled roofs

infusing contemporary interiors into the traditional structure

Nodding to the region’s traditional architecture, wooden structures are used to reinforce the wooden columns and to decorate the roof with old tiles, blending a harmonious fusion between old and new. The moderate renovative plan restores the old construction embracing the surrounding greenery and incorporating it into the design as a free-formed canopy of branches and leaves. Taking its name from the immersive natural element wrapping the structure, the Canopée Café, accessible from the second floor, overlooks picturesque views of the Yangtze River, engulfed by the shade of trees, and the peeling walls and the undulant eaves of Huguang Club maintaining a sense of stillness. The building ‘grows’ vertically tracing over the contours of the mountainous landscape of Chongqing.

The interior arranges low-standing walls and partitions to avoid permanent alterations to the original construction. The layout forms an open plan dividing several functions into blocks, such as the bar and facilities zones, reviving the old building’s scheme and circulation flow. The steel gallery bridge and large folding windows stand as the main modifying feature of the renovation. The interior fosters a sense of serenity with a pure, rhythmic white atmosphere and minimalist aesthetic, while the alterations between light and shadow accentuate the historic wooden frame.

the stepped volumes trace over the mountainous landscape of Chongqing

The Mint List fits out London office with mid-century-style movable furniture

By Zarkon Group,17/02/2023

Bespoke furniture with a mid-century feel can be rearranged to alter the use of this office space in north London, which interior design studio The Mint List has created for a music management company.

Camilla Kelly of The Mint List designed the headquarters for management company Everybody’s, which recently upgraded to larger premises on the ground floor of a former shipping depot.

Office space with dark wood desks, wall panelling and a yellow sofa in office interior by The Mint List — Everybody’s office is located in a former shipping depot

Architect Duncan Woodburn developed plans to reconfigure the large, light-filled unit as an open-plan workspace including a high-ceilinged entrance along with a kitchen and dining area.

For the interior scheme, Kelly worked closely with Lucy Tudhope of Everybody’s, ensuring the focus was on retaining the building’s existing character and creating a flexible workspace with a midcentury feel.

Flexible office space with white walls and floors, decorated with dark wood midcentury furniture — The Mint List designed custom joinery to divvy up the interior

“We wanted to ensure that we respected the modernist nature of this industrial site, whilst integrating a sense of creativity that was absolutely key for the client,” Kelly said.

One of the main challenges was zoning the large space to create different functional areas. This was achieved using custom-built joinery to separate self-contained yet open-plan spaces.

Modular kitchen island in a double-height space with overhead pendant lighting in office interior by The Mint List — Modular furniture features throughout the office interior

Much of the joinery is modular, allowing the space to be reconfigured if required. Large storage units at the entrance are accessible from both sides and completely movable so they can be rolled away to create an open event space.

Most of the time, the units serve to separate the office from the entrance area and provide staff with a degree of privacy from visitors.

Lounge room with parquet flooring, grey sofa and cream armchair — The office also houses a lounge for playing music

The main workspace is flooded with light that enters through the building’s glazed frontage. It contains desks and bespoke oak credenzas that can also be easily moved to completely clear the open-plan room.

At one end of the office is a kitchen with built-in storage, including coloured drawers and cupboard fronts that complement the African sapele wood joinery.

The kitchen contains bar seating next to the windows and a dining space arranged around a three-metre-long leather-topped artist’s table.

A full-height glazed wall specified by the client separates the workspace from private offices and a cloakroom on the ground floor, as well as a mezzanine that houses an acoustically sealed meeting room and a lounge for playing music.

Staircase with brown tile walls, white panelling and glass pendant lamp in hallway by The Mint List — Glossy tiles feature in the stairwell

“The brief was a seamless, vertical grid of glass,” explained Kelly. “So we helped to translate that in terms of the finishes – textured glass to obscure vision through to the office and a beautifully finished oak frame that complements the midcentury scheme.”

Throughout the project, The Mint List applied a palette of tactile and honest materials including sapele wood, oak, concrete and burnished brass.

Office meeting room with parquet flooring wooden table and wooden chairs with black upholstered seats — The Mint List added wood surfaces and brass details

A colour scheme based on natural hues including greens, creams and earthy browns adds visual richness to the spaces.

The office’s Marmoleum flooring is a custom design that subtly separates the space into different zones. The renewable material was chosen for its excellent acoustic properties in order to help absorb sound within the open spaces.

Bathroom with white sink and toilet and pink and white tiled wall in office interior by The Mint List — The bathrooms are playfully decorated with colourful tiles

Bathrooms located on the ground floor feature retro sanitary- and brassware complemented by playful tiles, with each wall laid in different patterns and colours.

Other recent office makeovers in London include Office S&M’s self-designed studio inside a former paint-making workshop and creative agency Ask Us For Ideas’ Soho office, which is split across two diametrically opposed floors.

The photography is by Dave Watts.

Office S&M unveils colourful office with plastic-bottle-wall meeting room

By Zarkon Group,30/01/2023

Architecture practice Office S&M has completed its own office inside a former paint-making workshop in Hackney, London.

With an entire wall of material samples and areas for modelling and sketching, Office S&M‘s workspace aims to act as a laboratory to support its ongoing exploration of materials “that are both practical and fun.”

Picture of a wall showcasing different material samples and a person touching one of the samples — Material samples are loosely placed to allow experimentation in the office

The studio, headed by architects Catrina Stewart and Hugh McEwen, frequently experiments with materials and colour.

For its own office, complementary shades such as electric blue, yellow, red and green, were combined.

Picture of an office's interior with electric blue walls, a red couch and a small pink mirror — The office combines bold colours

“For this workspace, we particularly used an electric blue and a bright yellow to contrast with each other and make the space larger,” McEwen told Dezeen.

“At the same time, because the workspace is south facing, we used the blue to cool the light and even out the warmth of the sun when looking at samples or drawings.”

Picture of a workspace with a communal desk in the centre, plants and green large windows in the background — The space has been broken into spaces for different uses

The office features a separate meeting room acoustically isolated with sheets of recycled plastic bottles.

The plastic-bottle wall also works as a point of light thanks to the bulbs it contains inside.

Picture of a yellow chair and a pink wavy side table in front of a recycled-plastic-bottle wall — According to the architects, the recycled-plastic-bottle “provides excellent acoustic insulation”

“For our own office, we decided to use another common waste material, plastic bottles, but reimagined, to build a soundproofed meeting room,” said Stewart.

“The recycled plastic insulation is easy to work with, and irritation free, compared to traditional insulation.”

Picture of a person drawing several illustrations of houses — The studio also includes ergonomic workstations

The space was divided into areas focused on collaboration, discussion and making to reflect Office S&M’s commitment to community-led design.

“We live in east London, and do much of our work in the areas near where we live and work,” said McEwen. “This gives us really local knowledge, so we can make sure projects have the most impact and can give back to the area.”

Picture of a three-storey building that previously was a paint-making business — The building is owned by Bootstrap, a charity that supports emerging businesses in Hackney

Additionally, Office S&M added plants, air purifiers and ergonomic workstations that intend to maintain the well-being of its occupants.

Other projects by the studio include a rental home for a young property developer that aims to offer a solution to London’s rental market, and the renovation of the Mo-tel House, a residence that features pale colours and bathroom counters made of discarded milk bottles and chopping boards.

The photography is by Ellen Christina Hancock.

Isern Serra uses earthy material palette for Andrés Reisinger office

By Zarkon Group,27/01/2023

Spanish architecture and interior design studio Isern Serra kept to a material palette of concrete, quartz and stainless steel to create this pared-back office for Reisinger Studio

Located in the Poblenou neighbourhood in Barcelona, digital artist Andrés Reisinger’s studio is surrounded by several other creative’s offices and is designed to reflect the artist’s minimalist, dreamlike style.

The ground floor of Andrés Reisinger's office — The Studio Reisinger office is designed to reflect the artist’s minimalist aesthetic

“The concept behind the interiors of my studio was to create a space that complements and doesn’t compete with the uplifting spirit of my work,” Reisinger told Dezeen.

“I wanted the studio to be like a canvas, with a kind of identity that I could play with,” he added. “The space is inspired by my work’s aesthetic, with seemingly surreal details amidst the light and bright studio.”

An office by Isern Serra — Isern Serra left its raw concrete pillars intact

Purchased as an empty shell, the Barcelona-based team decided to leave parts of the original space intact such as the concrete pillars while the ceiling was left exposed.

Natural tones and textures were introduced through paint and flooring to create an airy and monochromatic yet soothing feel.

A kitchen by Isern Serra — A stainless steel kitchen is on the ground floor

“First the colour and texture of the walls were chosen,” Isern Serra told Dezeen. “They are finished with a quartz-based paint in the form of a paste,” he added.

“A natural finishing of micro-cement for the flooring was chosen to have the same tone and textured effect,” Serra said.

A dining table inside Andrés Reisinger's office — A concrete table can be used for dining and working

The team then went about filling the space with office equipment and furnishings, paying close attention to sourcing locally made items that reflect the sculptural work of Reisinger Studio.

A large concrete table, which functions as a workspace and dining table was made on-site and stands in the middle of the studio.

It was produced in a hue that sits between millennial pink and beige – a colour that has become synonymous with Reisinger’s work. A similar shade can be seen throughtout Reisinger and architect Alba de la Fuente’s virtual residence Winter House.

Around the table is a set of chrome metal stools custom-made by designer Julia Esque that complement the stainless steel staircase which curls up the floor above.

Also in the area below the mezzanine, is a kitchen made entirely of stainless steel that features an integrated hydraulic push-to-open storage system.

An office interior by Isern Serra — A millennial pink colour palette was used throughout

On the upper floor, which is fronted by glass, Andrés Reisinger has a private office with a wooden desk for meetings. Plush pink seating here adds a touch of warmth. A separate shower and toilet are also situated on this floor.

“The goal was to create a space that would inspire, rather than distract, from the work being produced,” explained Reisinger.

“I imagined the studio as a blank canvas, a place where my team and I could come to experiment, evolve and grow our ideas and projects.”

The interior of an office by Isern Serra — The office has a separate meeting room

Argentinian designer Andrés Reisinger founded Reisinger Studio in 2018. The artist is best known for the Hortensia chair, a bulbous pink armchair made with CGI that went viral on Instagram.

He also made headlines for his collection of “impossible” virtual furniture, which sold for $450,000 at auction.

The photos are courtesy of Reisinger Studio.

Vo Trong Nghia Architects designs Urban Farming Office for own studio

By Zarkon Group,25/01/2023

Vietnamese studio Vo Trong Nghia Architects has completed Urban Farming Office, its own head office in Ho Chi Minh City, creating a concrete-framed building covered in a “vertical farm” of vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Located on a corner site in the city’s Thu Duc district, the Urban Farming Office was designed to be emblematic of the plant-filled, low-energy architecture for which Vo Trong Nghia Architects is known.

Alongside the office, the practice has also constructed a version of its low-cost housing prototype, S House, designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes and first unveiled in 2012.

exterior image of Urban Farming Office — Urban Farming Office was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects

“Under rapid urbanisation, cities in Vietnam have diverged far from their origins as sprawling tropical forests,” explained the practice. “The lack of green causes various social problems such as air pollution, floods and the heat island effect.”

“In this context, new generations in urban areas are losing their connection with nature, [and] increasing droughts, floods and salinisation jeopardise food supplies,” it continued.

The core of the office building is constructed using an exposed concrete frame, while the planters themselves are supported by a shelving-like external structure of thin steel, allowing them to be flexibly rearranged as plants grow or swapped out entirely.

Image of the facade at Urban Farming Office — The building is covered in a vertical farm

Completely covering the building’s glazed southern side, the wall of plants acts to filter sunlight and air, preventing overheating and creating a shaded microclimate for the office interiors.

Inside, workspaces are organised around a central atrium, and full-height sliding glass doors provide access onto balcony areas for moving or harvesting from the planters, with a rooftop garden providing further space for growing plants.

“Together with the roof garden and ground, the system provides up to 190 per cent of green ratio to the site area, which is equivalent to 1.1 tons of harvest,” explained the practice.

“[The vegetation] is irrigated with stored rainwater, while evaporation cools the air,” it continued.

Interior image of Urban Farming Office — The building is the architecture studio’s own office

The concrete structure has been left completely exposed internally, complemented by dark wood furniture and minimalist light fittings to provide a contrast to the bright green of the planted facade.

To allow the office areas to be as open as possible, the lift and stair core has been pushed to the northern corner of the building, where brick walls with small openings for ventilation have been left bare to allow for the possibility of future rear extensions.

Interior image of the concrete office — It has an exposed concrete interior

Architect Vo Trong Nghia founded his eponymous practice in 2006, and it has since become known for its explorations of low-energy architecture, often incorporating plants and bamboo into its designs.

Other projects recently completed by the studio include a bamboo welcome centre for a resort on the island of Phu Quoc, and a home in Bat Trang wrapped by a perforated brick wall and a series of elevated garden spaces.

The photography is by Hiroyuki Oki.

Instead Of Stairs, A Spiraling Ramp Was Designed For This Office Building

By Zarkon Group,11/01/2023

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.

PAULO MERLINI architects has designed the offices of E-GOI & CLAVEL´S KITCHEN in Portugal, and one of the main design features central to the interior is a spiraling ramp.

The former warehouse, which has now been transformed into offices that span multiple floors, includes a ramp that replaces the need for a staircase.

The elegantly curves of the concrete form is accentuated by the use of white bars and edges.

The circling ramp connects the floors of the office and adds a sculptural element that doesn’t block the light from traveling throughout the interior.

A white frame and supports connect the top of a spiraling ramp with the ceiling.

Here’s a glimpse of the ramp looking down from the top floor, and up from the ground.

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the office…

The exterior of the office has walls of glass providing a glimpse of the interior for the pedestrians on the street.

The exterior of this modern office has walls of glass providing a glimpse of the interior for the pedestrians on the street.

There’s a variety of different seating areas in the office interior, including spaces for casual meetings in house-shaped alcoves.

There's a variety of different seating areas in this modern office interior, including spaces for casual meetings in house-shaped alcoves.

More private work rooms with glass walls that keep the sound in or out.

A modern office interior with a variety of work areas.

A larger meeting room with a blue curtain that’s filled with beanbags and has LED lighting in the ceiling.

A large meeting room with a blue curtain that's filled with beanbags and has LED lighting in the ceiling.

Other more traditional work spaces exist too, with desks that include multiple work stations.

A modern office with floor-to-ceiling windows.

There’s also a photo studio with a minimalist white kitchen with floating wood shelves. Adjacent to the kitchen are tall wood shelves filled with photography props and kitchen equipment.

A modern office has a photo studio with a minimalist white kitchen with floating wood shelves. Adjacent to the kitchen are tall wood shelves filled with photography props and kitchen equipment.

Wood shelves frame a spiraling ramp in the center of this modern office.

When it’s time to take a break from working, there’s a communal area with long wood tables, a kitchenette, seating by the windows, and an outdoor space.

A modern office with a communal break room.

A modern office with seating by the windows that take advantage of the natural light.

A modern office with plants that hang from a metal detail.

Photography by Ivo Tavares Studio | Architecture Office: PAULO MERLINI architects | Main Architects: Paulo Merlini/ André Santos Silva

Instead Of Stairs, A Spiraling Ramp Was Designed For This Office Building

Semba Corporation creates own office interior from reclaimed materials

By Zarkon Group,26/10/2022

Interior construction firm Semba Corporation has renovated the interior of its headquarters in Tokyo to include reclaimed materials discarded during the demolition of other offices.

The company’s redesign of its own office interior is shortlisted in the sustainable interior category for the upcoming Dezeen Awards, which will announce its winners next month.

Semba Good Ethical Office interior — The interior is made from materials salvaged from demolished offices

Called Semba Good Ethical Office, the project features various pared-back tables, seating and shelving created from materials salvaged from previous office demolitions.

This furniture is positioned across a single open-plan space in Japan’s capital, which is brightly illuminated by overhead lighting and rectilinear windows.

Reclaimed wooden structure — Plinth-like seating and stairs forms a centrepiece

A plinth-like centrepiece takes the form of both a staircase and a designated desk area, which was formed from boxy arrangements of surplus wood and old filing cabinets.

Semba Corporation centred the interiors around two principles – “ethical” and “hackable” design – in order to complete the project, the company said.

Semba Corporation office — Semba Corporation applied its own design principles to the project

“To incorporate ‘ethical design’, a circular interior design [theory], into the office renovation, we mined materials from unnecessary stuff generated by office demolitions,” Semba Corporation told Dezeen.

“Under the theme of ‘hackable design’, we can redefine our working style and attitudes. We completely renovated our office to be friendly to the Earth, people and society,” explained the firm.

Reconstituted foam padding by Semba Corporation — Reconstituted foam was used to create padding on benches

According to the company, 80 per cent of the furniture in the Semba Good Ethical Office is reused, while the office achieved a waste-recycling rate of 99 per cent.

Reconstituted foam was used to create the padding on benches that make up informal meeting booths, while various offcuts of wood were used to construct geometric shelves throughout the interior.

Semba Corporation explained that it hopes that other firms will begin to adopt similar design principles when creating their office interiors.

“Especially in Japan, the lifespan from construction to demolition and disposal has become very short since [increasing] economic growth, and waste has been dumped in landfill,” the firm said.

“However, Japanese culture has originally valued attachment to things and has an aesthetic sense to continue to use them with creative ideas. So I think our principles have an affinity to that culture.”

“We hope that ‘ethical design,’ a future-friendly interior design, will be a basic principle in interior design for the future.”

Wooden shelving — Reclaimed wood was used to form various shelving

Semba Good Ethical Office joins a group of existing self-designed studios that other firms have created to be more sustainable than the average office, according to the companies.

These include German studio Urselmann Interior’s renovation of its studio to include biodegradable, recycled or upcycled materials.

The images are courtesy of Semba Corporation.