BEHIVE architects designs oval meditation salon within shanghai office building

BEHIVE architects has designed an oval meditation salon for the shanghai headquarters of ‘rainbow arches’, a brand focused on contemporary physical meditation and therapy, based on the theory of chinese colorization energy. housing an additional meditation space, a psychological consulting room, a café, and a lounge area, the design intends to generate an inspiring spiritual space.

all images by tim wu

BEHIVE architects view the newly designed oval space as a metaphorical expression of many things; a spaceship that roams in the universe, or a cradle that protects newborns. ‘the dynamic form of the shell creates a space of fluidity and reflects our multi-dimensional states of mind’ the studio shares. the oval salon is essentially seen as the true nucleus of the store.

open or enclosed, the oval space can accommodate diverse activities in different scenarios, serving as a meeting and training room for the staff, as a meditation spot for the customers, or even as an entertainment space. two entries are located on the opposing corners, and multiple openings along the shell allow visual interaction between the interior and the exterior, while introducing the city view into the heart of the space.

project info:

name: rainbow arches energy salon – shanghai flagship store
architecture office: BEHIVE architects
lead architects: darcy chang, rachael ouyang
design team: tianye zhou, yijun chen, sam sun 
location: shanghai, china

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom