Text description provided by the architects. The headquarter of Woo is located in Tianjin, with a floor height of 3.5 meters and an area of about 3,000 square meters. The nature of this project is the renovation of the existing building, which was a commercial hotel built in the late 1990s. Its formal business operation mode and architectural form have been in conflict with the pattern of urban change, which in needs of new adapted functions.

Facade after renovation. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

As the traditional service industry business model turns to a more flexible post-industrial one, it strengthens the individualization, privatization and scene creation. On the one hand, this trend allows more dedicated quality in design. On the other hand, it requires the space with flexibility. In this context, Woo Space Company designated the original commercial hotel space into a co-working office, so as to make it more in line with the overall environment of social development, the demands of working, consumption and activities.

Diagram

The original design of the building was a combination of a three-story rectangular and a two-story arc volume. In addition to the retaining the formal structure, a rectangular two-story cantilever structure was added. This newly added rectangular volume change not only creates spatial expansion, but also helps to reduce the sense of isolation between the two forms of the original building. Same method is used in two entrance spaces, namely, to add two extended rectangular canopy.

Reception. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

Entrance. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

While the architect retains the original basic structure, to better fit the human scale, he changes the facade into a red brick masonry from the formal big block granite. Through hollow-out brick masonry, the effect of light and shadow is increased, and a kind of fuzzy semi-transparent interface is created. The activities inside the building are vaguely mapped to the external urban environment.

Coffee area. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

Public space. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

As the major spatial language, square and circle are continually applied to external and interior space. The interior public place is by the window on the side of the entry of the main entrance, the circular space is the largest discussion area, which can accommodate the needs of 10 people’s brain storming. There is an external corridor at the boundary, which connects the open workshop in each area and the small and medium-sized meeting and resting areas.

Discussion area. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

The original building space does not have much height advantage, but it still tries to improve the utilization rate of space and the sense of space experience through small interlayer design. For example, the upper part of the circular meeting room has the space of tatami mat, and the sleeping box at the top of the corridor becomes the private and relaxation space in the office.

Co-working. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

Using environmental – friendly straw board for rapid construction creates different functional modules, including Cafe, gym, road show hall, sleeping box and other functions to link to community office resources, from work, games to cooperation and discussion demands. They are illuminated by point chandeliers to create a meditated atmosphere, to enhance the interaction and the characteristics of the co-working dynamics.

Facade after renovation. Image Courtesy of hyperSity

• Architects

  hyperSity

• Location

  Yi Jing Lu, Dongli Qu, Tianjin Shi, China

• Category

  Renovation

• Lead Architects

  Yang Shi, Shaojun Li

• Design Team

  Yang Shi, Tong Zhao, Yunpeng Li, Yu Qi

• Area

  3000.0 m2

• Project Year

  2016