The present design was completed as an urban reconstruction project with both many restrictions and heartfelt aspirations present at the same time. The project is located in Beijing, China, inside the Hentong International Innovation Park on Chaoyang District. Its predecessor was a flat floor, five meters high, 80 meters long and 20 meters wide factory building on the east side of the park. The exterior of the overall structure could not be widened or elevated due to restrictions by the park that prohibit such modifications. Still, we had to create a professional workspace for 300 people, with recreational areas and a warehouse to store e-commerce products. Furthermore, the design needed to convey the business philosophy and corporate culture of the company. Therefore, we decided to start with the essence of the building space.

Based on the transformation of the first phase of the office, the structure of the second phase of the office space of Mafengwo has strengthened the brand's simple, efficient and direct impression through the addition of more flat elements. At the same time, the homologous, creative and interesting character is conveyed through the diversified expression of the same material. Under the limited space conditions of the new area, the employee's office experience was solved through design, and the continuous attraction of the enterprise human environment to the talent market was maintained. In the adjustment of materials and color systems, the calmness of excessive adjustment and social temperature has increased the sense of professionalism in business, and responded to the brand's new transition from “content aggregation community” impression to “content aggregation + tourism service”positioning process.

Main architect: Zou Yingxi Architectural design: Fernando Velázquez García Interior design: Xia Fuqiang, Cao Zhenzhen, Liu Tingting, Feng Yan Electrician: Wu Congyu Water supply and heating: Yi Chao Structures: Liu Xiaohu

Creative performance Combined and networked flat features integrate the layout of “the cloud”. Passages running from south to north on the first and second floors, far-reaching towards the outdoors provide a creative mezzanine layout. Through careful study of the structure, the thickness of the mezzanine was reduced as much as possible while ensuring safety, thus providing “the cloud” with a light texture and floating appearance, as well as increasing the height of the upper and lower floors. The implementation by sections of the mezzanine provides a coherent second floor, and its vertical interconnection on the east and west sides relieves the overall feeling of been confined to small spaces caused by the height of the floors. It is possible to reach the natural skylight on the first floor from both sides. This feature also balances the visual comfort of the space. While “the cloud” is the core of the design, the concept further becomes the soul of the spatial layout.

Design date: June 2017 Finish date: February 2018