yiduan shanghai adds canopy to shipping containers to form office building

chinese firm yiduan shanghai interior design has completed ‘the solid and void’, a three story office building situated in an open grassland in chongming island, shanghai. the project is composed of 10 stacked shipping containers, each paired with an outdoor void box designed to increase the interior functional area of each container. the added volumes create a bold contrast of staggering solids and voids within the aptly named project and create a series of indoor and outdoor integrated spaces.

stacked shipping containers create a volumetric office building
all images © zhu enlong, courtesy of yiduan shanghai interior design

by aesthetically stacking the shipping containers and connecting them with the exterior spaces, yiduan shanghai interior design created a volumetric building composed of three interconnected floors. the first floor functions as reception and display area, the second as a cafeteria, and the third floor hosts the office spaces for working, meeting and business activities.

a coordinated color palette blends in natually with its surroundings

the added void boxes create open air balconies and additional functions for each container’s initially narrow, closed interior. these new outdoor spaces are clad with light wooden grilles to provide shade to the balconies, bring natural light into the interior spaces, and create a poetic play between light and shadows. the lattice canopies in light wood also blend into the project’s surrounding natural environment.

containers frame different views of the chinese grasslands

nature is inherently incorporated into the architecture, since a small river runs through the middle of the site. the designers also chose to integrate more natural elements into the building such as a tree built into the first floor deck and several rock garden spaces to evoke a calm, zen environment. the surrounding greenery and natural elements are highlighted by the project’s coordinated palette of white and light natural wood. by offering varying views out to the chinese grassland, the designers successfully integrate the indoors and outdoors in this light, yet elegant staggered building.

a view of the interconnected outdoor areas clad with the wooden lattice

interior and exterior areas interplay throughout the project

the added void boxes create open air balconies and additional functions for each container

nature is incorporated as part of the building’s design

zen elements match the modern and minimalist design style

the void boxes provide more space for additional amenities

lattice canopy provides a shaded outdoor area in the balconies and brings natural light to the interiors

yiduan shanghai interior design’s project sits on a river and grasslands

project info:

project name: the solid and void

project category: reception & display center

architectural design firm: yiduan shanghai interior design (www.yd-d.net)

chief designer/creative director: xu xujun

design team: xu xuwei, liu wei, gong xuan, liu wei

project location: haiyong county, chongming island, shanghai, china

project area: architecture — 1800 m2, landscape — 2000 m2

completion time: may 2018

main material brands: kohler, nvc, usg boral

photographer: zhu enlong

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: cristina gomez | designboom