o-office renovates work studio in a plant house with glass and steel

chinese practice o-office shared with us one of their newest projects completed in january of this year, the work studio in a plant house located in guangzhou, china. the space was renovated from a previously built green house for a local landscape design firm, using characteristics from the existing structure to help re-define the use for an office. the plant house was built on the south-facing slope of a gentle hill, utilizing a lightweight steel structure to support a sawtooth-like pitched roof canopy that acts as a giant glass house, enjoying the constant illumination of natural light throughout the day.

the plaza serves as the junction between the existing warehouse and the new glass structure
image © liky photos (also first image)

o-office maintained the existing structure and ventilation systems to preserve the aesthetic and semi-outdoor ambiance of the interior, fitting for the landscape design firm. the lower level consists of an open floor plan with polished concrete floors and and a central staircase that functions as planter and seating area. this floor is meant to be used for larger gatherings within the studio- its flexibility lends to a multi-functional environment that enjoys a covered exterior-like ambiance. on the second level, fully sealed acclimatized rooms functioning as independent constructions floating above serve as work areas for smaller management teams and projects. with a combination of opaque a transparent walls these rooms offer some visual and acoustic privacy from the main space below while benefiting from the greenhouse aesthetic and natural light.

the central space features a staircase functioning as a planter and seating area
image © liky photos

glass partitions and porous upper level ensure natural daylight reaches every area of the building. the various reflective materials and muted white surfaces are offset by the various clusters of plants spread throughout the space. slender steel and wood structural elements framing walls, doors, and windows maintain the greenhouse aesthetic and keep the interior free of visual clutter. three large heteropanax trees growing on the ground floor are left intact, helping to define the entry foyer, reaching clear to the upper level.

the upstairs provides views out of either end of the structure through a series of glass partitions
image © liky photos

naturally-growing trees on the ground floor penetrate the upstairs level forming a garden
image © liky photos

image © liky photos

image © liky photos

portions of the roof are left translucent for natural daylight, with opaque panels placed over the enclosed working areas
image © liky photos

wood window and door frames add an element of warmth to the glass and concrete interior
image © liky photos

image © liky photos

image © liky photos

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project info:

architect: o-office architects
principal: jianxiang he, ying jiang
design team: chengqiang huang, xiaolin chen, tao zhang
project size: 1214 ㎡
completion: jan 2017

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