AFTER PARTY proposes a future office prototype to reduce the use of concrete

in collaboration with zhenke petyr jin, lithuanian architecture office, AFTER PARTY, presents a concept for the future of office working. called ‘social plant’, the idea makes reference to le corbusier’s ‘maison dom-ino’, which was a standardized housing prototype with an open floor plan. 

exterior view

images and diagrams courtesy of AFTER PARTY and zhenke petyr jin

social plant is envisioned for a chinese context and as a flexible structure, allowing infinite adaptations and contributing towards a circular economy. the design is composed of a concrete space frame and a glulam timber structural system inserted inside. advocating for an ‘environmentally cautious’ building, AFTER PARTY proposes to use lightweight renewable wood and reduce the use of concrete by 60%.

interior space

within the concrete framework, the flexible timber structures can be freely customized by office workers. the triple-height informal work areas concentrated at the edges provide the testing grounds for research and experimentation, as well as space for knowledge sharing and creativity fueling. diverse forms of workspaces intertwine with each other, creating unexpected encounters. such a lively and interactive scenario intends to stand firmly against the rigidity of conventional offices and imagine the freedom of the future workplace. 

view of the glulam timber and concrete space frame

the internal volumes are surrounded by a buffer zone that creates favorable conditions to use natural light and ventilation, ensuring a pleasant indoor environment. air can circulate through the open spaces and lush greenery provides passive cooling and shading. in addition, the large canopies protect from direct sunlight while large windows afford optimum light conditions for working.

façade detail

by utilizing a concrete space frame with the internal glulam timber structural system, the design team proposes that social plant can be easily repeated and multiplied, providing a typological work environment to various contexts in china or abroad. it may be stacked multiple times to a tower, or laid in a long low-rise line to activate parks or waterfronts. the shell may be replaced by an existing structure and the interior volumes would function as free-standing pavilions. it could even be a mobile addition to a ferry.

flexible adaptation to various contexts

prototype concept

typical floor plan

section

axonometric view

structure principle

project info:

project name: social plant

status: concept

design: AFTER PARTY in collaboration with zhenke petyr jin

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom