for their most recent project, DUTS design has completed a new work space in the huangpu district of shanghai. located within a former world expo building and old factory, the project sees the renovation of the existing place to redefine interior functionality. the brief meets the various needs of two separate companies and includes space for conferences, exhibitions, shows, roadshows and parties.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

all images by qingshan wu and sanying jiang

 

 

the project is located on the top floor of the building and boasts a generous outdoor terrace. with an interior depth of 32 meters, but a height of only 3.5 meters, DUTS design had to create an office within the existing constraints. another challenge was to meet the functional needs of daily work between the two companies under relatively limited conditions. in the end, the designers created a space that has positive functions and additionally matches a ‘museum-level’ multi-purpose exhibition hall.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

after many deliberations, the design team decided to retain the existing elevator on the west side and the escalator on the east side have been retained. the elevator becomes the primary entry to the fourth floor and the design starts with the white elevator hall that extends the horizontal façade. the ‘floating’ or ‘anti-gravity’ conference room and tea room divide the area into two individual spaces. it also creates an encircling walkway that can be used as a multi-functional exhibition hall.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

the front desk, reception area, and offices are planned near the entry. the niche and door create a recessed space, and a view of the river can be seen through this ‘box’. the walls on the left and right-hand sides of the front hall are covered with black steel plates. timber plates are used to surround the inner face of this box to add an element of warmth. the balance between cold and warm represents the strong contrast with the white space around this area, while the staggered wall niches break the monotonous environment.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

the largest conference room has been placed in the central area of the building. this space is separated from the ground with an elevated platform that extends 3.6 meters in three directions. the wedge façade creates an illusion to hide the steel structure. although the conference room is gigantic, it generates a moderate and light appearance thanks to the dramatic ‘anti-gravity’ effect. the extension space on the platform can be used as a stage or showcase area and the walkway surrounding the conference room has unlimited scenarios that can be used as a multi-function scene.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

the central conference room faces the north side of terrace. the ceiling extends from the top of the conference room to the outside awning. the same method that is used on the façade makes the awning, that spans more than 11 meters, appear as light as paper. the tea room is located under this area. the design team wanted to create an indirect connection between those two elements, therefore, in order to demonstrate this effect, the cantilevered awning is exaggerated and lightly shades the tea room.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

the design takes the advantages of the rooftop and places skylight windows to introduce natural lighting into the room. when sunlight penetrates through the skylight windows, the shadows reflect on the floor, creating various patterns at different time of the day.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

the design puts aside all the unnecessary decorations to create an authentic space. the whole area uses basic materials such as cement brick, steel plate and wood. the color of black and white are chosen to symbolize calm and rational. these are also the two primary colors in this space. at the same time, these colors can merge perfectly with other interior ingredients that have various chroma, brightness and saturation. the complete balance between beauty and simplicity is the ultimate goal, so people can feel pragmatic peace that created from the components in this space.

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

DUTS design creates a 'floating' conference room inside shanghai office renovation designboom

 

 

project info:

 

project type: office

location: shanghai, china

client: yi cheng industrial investment co. ltd., shanghai

area: 17,976 ft2 (1,670 m2)

architecture firm: DUTS design

lead architect: ling zhong

design team: yingqi hu, wanggang shi, ke xu

project manager: wenjie zhang

construction team: xing yuan

photography: qingshan wu, sanying jiang

 

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