FACT FILE:
Project:
Qin Group Second Operating Space (Chengdu) Office
Client:
Qin Group
Project team:
Li Dongyu, Chen Yao and Luo Jin
Design agency:
Studio DOTCOF
Design team:
Chen Xi, Zhuang Haolai, Li Rong and Lan Lan
Mechanical and electrical design:
Li Mu and Lang Maoqian
Construction company:
Sichuan Fangsheng Xingfeng Construction Engineering Co.
Area:
680m2
Completed:
February 2021
Photographer:
Arch-Exist
Main materials:
Mirror surface, brushed stainless-steel plating, self-levelling cement, white cement grooved board, fireproof wood grain board and gravel
The site conditions were harsh. Qin Group’s rented space consists of two adjacent, independent units separated by thick walls into two areas, left and right, that are only connected by an external corridor. The space is a long, narrow, deep rectangle, and the natural lighting in the centre is extremely poor. In addition, the beams are spaced relatively densely, and clearance underneath at only 2.6m is very low.
Studio DOTCOF has presented a concept of ‘working under the same roof’, which is a metaphor for collaboration between different branches from the group to develop and grow together. The practice has designed a number of long, white, cylindrical ceilings to form the appearance of large eaves. With uplighters, the light is guided through the arched ceiling and then refracted, forming a bright, soft and diffusely-lit atmosphere. The long, cylindrical ceiling has hidden the untidy pipelines of the bare roof above out of sight.
In order to enhance the sense of connection between the two sides, Studio DOTCOF placed mirrors on the upper halves of the walls, creating a visual extension of the space and the large eaves. The wall that separates the two spaces was also opened up and replaced with fire shutters. This allows people to freely shuttle back and forth between the two spaces. The desks are positioned to extend the lateral style and connect the two spaces.
