MVRDV glass office in hong kong

MVRDV transforms factory into office made of glass in hong kong
old and new are easily distinguished, whilst the inner workings of the building are completely on display
all images © ossip van duivenbode

dutch firm MVRDV has revealed their recently completed office transformation and adaptive reuse project in hong kong. previously occupied by a factory, MVRDV’s response to ‘133 wai yip street’ in east kowloon was by stripping the post-industrial building to its bare fabric and replacing the interior elements with glass and stainless steel. the 18,000 square meter site now stands as a transparent office space including retail and restaurant programs.

‘we are moving into a transparent society, businesses are becoming more open with the public, and people care more about what goes on behind closed doors. in that way, a clear workspace leaves nothing questionable, nothing hidden; it generates trust.’ comments MVRDV co-founder winy maas, ‘but also it is an opportunity for the building to become a reminder of the industrial history of the neighbourhood, monumentalised in a casing of glass.’

an entirely glass office: tables, shelves, floors, speakers, computers, walls have been utilized

the approach was to expose the inner workings of the building including the structure and installations. with this, infill was only added in the form of white paint, glass and stainless steel in order to maintain and highlight the purity of the bare structure. old and new are easily distinguished, whilst the inner workings of the building are on display for all to see and free from visible clutter. features such as transparent lifts in glass shafts reveal the movement going up and down the building; with even the fire-stairs are encased in fire-resistant glass.

the ground floor comprises of retail, whilst the two floors above this are reserved for restaurants

the exterior of the former building closed itself off from the street behind with rendered and tiled concrete walls and tiny windows. in order to blend the surrounding area and create a more approachable environment on all sides, the rear façade has been stripped back and replaced with glazing. through doing this the communal areas and vertical circulation of the building are exposed, giving pedestrians an insight into the happenings of each office and the movement of those inside. the large amounts of glass used has surprisingly resulted in the building receiving 17% lower annual energy consumption and a 15% lower peak electricity demand compared to average offices in hong kong.

MVRDV have recently unveiled other projects that boast the heavy use of glass and the concept of transparency: crystal houses and the infinity kitchen at the venice architecture biennale and the glass office is, for now, the firm’s last project in an ongoing exploration into the alternative uses of glass in architecture.

the building has been is stripped down to its raw state, with all unnecessary elements being taken out