'the library' houses a luxurious showroom for collectible cars in hong kong

human creations anchored in culture

stumbling upon the identity of a work of substance, one may witness how the collective relies on human creations anchored in culture. ‘we are a collective of passionate explorers from 15 countries. we exercise the art of forgetting what we know and look to maps of the past as we scavenge for vibrant stories about the people and cultures that our designs inhabit,’ the group states. in pursuing their intention to respect their intrinsic relationship with the environment, they introduced ‘the library,’ a timber-clad garage space in hong kong comprising vast automotive treasures designed with a focus on strengthening the thread that cultivates the avid spirit for driving.

‘fueled with endless motion and the purest exhilaration, this place introduces an aura of stillness. capturing moments of excitement within a split second and honoring it in all its glory. home to priceless cars and memorabilia, we aim to celebrate its air of history and unfold the fruitful narrative within. this notion has formed the backbone of our design approach and has allowed us to communicate the beauty of automotive design into the details of the space,’ shares a work of substance.

images courtesy of a work of substance

elegance and eloquence

the touch of elegance and the spirit of eloquence make their way into the sophisticated lines, details, and palettes a work of substance infused in the library. inspired by the mechanical nature of cars, the collective opted to engineer the space with mobility design in mind. ‘each component and part that has been fittingly integrated within, can be easily assembled and disassembled to the user’s whim. deriving an unparalleled level of modularity, while maintaining an exquisite fit and finish,’ they share.

a work of substance’s vision was to package the space without losing the level of immersion they were seeking for. ‘so, we ventured out and experimented with materiality to craft a hall of infinite reflections, utilizing polished stainless steel panels to create a visual journey that seamlessly plays with light and forms. exemplary of our attention to detail, we proceeded to recognize what is fundamental to the essence of a car. with cabinetry handles inspired by the ones adorned on a zagato and lounge chairs that pay homage to the ferrari dino, our design creates a platform to preserve the beauty of the past and celebrate the emotions of the future.’

the regal look of the interior

design as a labor of love

the regal aura that permeates the space seems to live eternally in this home of automotive treasures. it speaks of the dedication of the designers to nourishing and strengthening the communities they touch, conscientiously using our planet’s resources to actively uphold their storytelling through design. ‘we believe that design is a labor of love as much as it is a love for labor. in our quest to harness the power of sustainable design to improve lives, we revel in the intense ruminations of the future of our world, in the scrupulous refinement of details, and in the thoughtful exploration of the rituals that mold our ideas into shape.’

eloquence and elegance permeating the space