#Work #office hub in #China
linehouse transforms former opium factory into #WeWork office hub in china nestled within a turn of the century brick building in china, WeWork weihai lu is a colorful office space completed by shanghai-based architecture studio linehouse. #originally used as an opium factory and artist residency, the complex is celebrated by encapsulating the feeling of a grand hotel that transport guests and #members on an unexpected journey of whimsey, voyeurism and #festivity. upon arrival, visitors pass through an old laneway framed by a traditional chinese arch. walls and #concrete #floor are painted pink whereas above them, lights are festively suspended between the façades.
the site is a combination of historical features with further industrial additions that have been made over the years. hence, linehouse has played with this narrative in the different spaces of the #wework office hub. the reception counter, #located within this in-between zone, is clad in heritage wood paneling and surrounded by a concrete base. behind it, a bronze metal structure hangs #lighting fixtures and where guests are greeted with a neon ‘ring for service’ #sign contained in a cabinet of curiosities that is painted light blue.
the #existing #steel #structure is painted ivy #green, with a #new #black #metal and #stained #OSB handrail leaner wrapping the triple height space, allowing guests to be spectators of the activities below. following that spirit, one characteristic element of the renovated hub is the green steel staircase that weaves through the #circulation #space — connecting all three levels of the front of house. the #latter is clad in triangular pieces of oak #wood, with one side #painted in #hues of blue. colors alternate as one travels up the stairs, creating a gradient of tones and shifting views from wood to blue. the staircase leads to the two pantry areas that play on the opium factory narrative, with large scale poppy #wallpapers #hand-painted in gold.
#Furthermore, the central atrium is surrounded by the heritage façade where a curved terrazzo tray is inserted to define the space. pastel diagonal strips of blue, green, pink and grey wrap the floor and wall, creating a hardscape carpet. a bronze structure is suspended above the terrazzo perimeter wall — hanging mirrors, artwork, shelving and lighting features. passing through that area to the back bar located within the heritage #building, one is transported to a tropical retro oriental parlor. a gold gradient wallpaper envelops the perimeter, with hand-painted shanghai ladies clothed in zebra attire and adorned in gangster bling — their era blurred between the 1920’s and the present day.
#Offering a warm spirit to the co-working hub, a bespoke lighting installation is suspended in the triple height space where pink and grey cables traverse the void. these strings are threaded through circular bronze rings from which custom glass shades are hung. finally, #bathroom walls are lined with pink and green printed tiles that creatively interconnect lines and shapes. the ceiling is covered in a dusty pink and a mint green lacquer box contains the cubicles where bronze light fixtures and #mirrors create a parlor-like vanity.
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