Aarticle creates a dynamic and inspiring workspace for the Singapore office of tech company New Future, taking inspiration from a national monument in Shanghai
Located in the Huangpu district in Shanghai, the graceful Yuyuan Garden is one of the city’s most notable fixtures. Constructed during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century, the sprawling two-hectare garden is known for its exquisite layout and tranquil scenery, which have enthralled many across the centuries. These are the elements Aarticle sought to adapt for an elegant office in Singapore’s Millenia Tower, designed for software development company New Future.
Based in Singapore and China, the tech firm has over 100 team members in the Lion City. The garden inspiration was arrived at in response to the unique brief, which included specific requirements from both the local team and the CEO from China.
The Singapore CEO wanted a collaborative workspace organised based on job functions, such that he is in close contact with the key members of management, while the general staff area would have a bullpen arrangement within its open-plan layout.
The China-based CEO preferred a more formal design for his workspace, so his requirements involved a formal reception area as well as a spatial sequence that would alert other employees to his arrival, and finally, a private entertainment zone in which he could host the firm’s most important clients.
The poetic references to the classical Chinese garden create a “spatially rich experience” and are conveyed via the overall layout of the workspace. “We studied spatial transitions and the way Yuyuan Garden creates a very rich sequence of movement, offering differing perspectives at every turn,” says Terrence Quah. “The traditional Chinese garden manages many differing nodes of importance with so many halls, each managing to create its own version of a commanding spatial relationship within a confined space.”
The way in which visitors and staff members would move through the workspace formed a key part of the interior design. As with Yuyuan Garden, there are a number of different paths visitors can take, some of which lead to private telephone booths and meeting rooms, and others to the private offices of key managers. Granite tiles demarcate the route that visitors should take, leading to the various areas of the office. These tiles were custom-made by EarthArts in China and shipped to Singapore.
Metal screens bring an added sheen to the entrance, coupled with the grandeur of the contrasting white marble floor tiles and the black marble reception counter. Additionally, the granite tiles even extend upwards and connect to the ceiling, creating a playful detail that wows visitors while they wait to be received for their appointment. This sloping element is repeated at the other end of the entrance, adding to the pleasing symmetry of the space.
A lake is often a key focal point in any classical garden, and in this office, a custom-made saltwater fish tank offers a nod to this water feature. It is installed to the left of the main entrance and creates an elegant first impression, as visitors take the winding path that leads further into the other areas of the workspace. Another subtle nod to Chinese influences is conveyed through the use of hexagonal forms, such as the bespoke six-sided desks made for some of the meeting rooms. These echo the shape of the pavilion platforms as well as traditional buildings such as pagodas, which form a key part of classical gardens.
Read the full article on Tatler Homes. Thank you Tatler for the feature!
Comments