Based in the Netherlands, FRAME is a well-known media dedicated to documenting and promoting cutting-edge interior design, covering product, interior decoration, material and fashion design. In 2020, FRAME magazine collaborated with Sunshine PR to establish an editorial branch in China, and commissioned ARCHSTUDIO to design the interior of its new office located in the Loft Space of Upper Hills, a core area of Shenzhen’s Futian CBD. The office is both a workplace and a platform for a collaborative culture. Directly connected to Lotus Mountain Park and Bijiashan Park, Upper Hills has a unique international cultural and commercial atmosphere with art theaters, luxury apartments, Mandarin His Oriental Hotel, Galeries Lafayette and other facilities. . The atmosphere of the Upper Hills’ open and relaxed multifunctional urban space fits well with FRAME’s open and inclusive media stance.
The design, which reinterprets space, structure, shape, and materials under the theme of “FRAME,” presents an innovative and stimulating work environment and communication platform to employees and visitors, while pursuing the aesthetics and design of the frame magazine. I will tell you.
The original loft space with a floor height of 8.8 meters is transparent to the north and south, providing suitable conditions for design and renovation. Within the given design range, the design team reconstructed the layout of the interior space according to the functional arrangement of the office space that can accommodate 40 people and the public activity space, adjusted the floor height, I created a layout.
The ground floor is a public area with a large multifunctional space where regular media events are held. The second floor consists of two open office areas. There are several office rooms and meeting rooms on the third floor. A triple-height atrium creates visual connections between different zones and enhances communication.
The bookshelves surrounding the atrium and the staircase are the visual focus of the office. The magazines and materials of the editorial department are stored on the bookshelf, and the stairs play an important role as a vertical flow line in the space. Both will form an 8.8m high installation with the theme of “FRAME”. The bookshelf and staircase are woven with 8mm diameter rebar, and this transparent ‘frame’ weakens the physical presence of the structure and interfaces.
The walls are full-height LED screens displaying a virtual video FRAMING created by UFO Media Lab. FRAMING transforms rebar into a dynamically stretched free-form grid. By going up and down the staggered stairs between the floors, you can temporarily escape from your daily life and enter the world of “FRAME” filled with virtual space.
Upperhills loft spaces are scalable and transparent, allowing designers to turn their visions and inspirations into reality. The ever-changing natural light creates a fresh and consistent atmosphere, creating a space where architecture, space, and people come together to grow sustainably. Industrial materials such as steel, cement, and glass are widely used in offices to avoid unnecessary decorations and to express rustic textures. Fixed furniture such as desks and bookshelves are custom-made products that integrate reinforced mesh and steel plates. The walls retain the original concrete texture and blend well with the self-leveling cement floors.
The completion of the FRAME China office has added another milestone to the authoritative FRAME magazine, built an international communication platform for the interior design industry, and promoted the global recognition of Chinese design.
architect: arch studio
Chief Designer: Xiaoming Li, Wenqiang Han
Designer: Shin Ray
Photo: Free Will Photography, UFO, Upper Hills