Architecture Firm’s Office and Exhibition Space in Shanghai
For their office, the architects selected a warehouse than had originally been used to store fabric. The compound – which consisted of three neighbouring, identical halls – had not been occupied for many years. Their remodelling concept stipulated that the crumbling stucco be removed completely: this revealed the existing brick masonry walls. The roofing of the middle warehouse was also dismantled, and in the process the old trusswork came into view. A large green provides a serene spot for a short break and connects the two converted halls: one of them accommodates the architecture firm, the other, exhibitions. To tie the ensemble together, the architects introduced a porous wall fronting three sides of it. The form of the wall was determined through parametric methods; the folds of silk fabric billowing in the wind served as inspiratin, a reference to the buildings’ previous use. The wall was erected of readily available, hollow concrete blocks. By simply rotating individual blocks it was transformed into a complex structure. This device obscures the modularity of the conventionally laid blocks and creates an animated effect. Through the variation of the angles – which were attained with the aid of simple cardboard templates – the ratio of transparent areas to closed areas produces an enigmatic aura, enables views in or out, modulates the light entering the compound, and provide protection from the sun.
