archive uses steel chain curtain partitions to organize office space in shanghai

architecture firm archive has designed a new workspace for company ‘little team’ situated in shanghai, china. with the brief calling for high flexibility, the layout combines an office area, a meeting room, and a display area within the space, keeping them both connected and separated through a series of interesting partitions.

all images courtesy of archive

the three areas need to be set apart, while also interconnected to some extent and therefore, the issue of boundaries has become the key point of the new design. archive removed the pre-existing coated white surface layer, thus exposing the structural wall as the background, while two newly built partition walls cut off the horizontal windows and continuous ceilings of the old space. mirrors are attached on both sides to complete the visual ‘restoration’ with a reflective effect.

the partition wall of the conference room is designed as a folding door that can be fully opened to allow spatial flexibility. the exhibition area can be used to display little team’s own products, while it can also be used for external art projects. the company hopes that people who walk into the exhibition room would take a glance at the office area, but they would not have immediate access to it. at the same time, staff in the office area could keep an eye on those activities and join them if they want.

while dealing with this interface, archive used the thickest stainless steel chain array to form a curtain door. this partition can divide the space, as well as maintain a sense of transparency. the heaviness of the stainless steel chain conveys the difficulty of penetration, hindering visitors from entering the office area, and can also be dispelled by the lightness of its array form.

the benches, shelves, and display tables are assembled from a set of daily materials. plywood is placed on the hollow bricks and clamped with woodworking clamps – a structure convenient for both assembling and disassembling. bright yellow woodworking clamps serve as decorative elements.

project info:

name: little team’s office
architecture office: archive
location: shanghai, china

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom