EVD designs own office space in shanghai using soft curves and arch motifs

with soft, sculptural forms and a uniformly muted color palette, the design team at EVD has shaped their own office space in shanghai, china. inspired by the arched elements in antonello da messina’s painting, ‘st. jerome in his study’, EVD has utilized this classical design motif to create a workspace that balances openness with privacy. 

EVD‘s design derives from the restrictions of the site – namely the position of the foyer, the existing structural framework and the five orderly window openings that define the wall placement. to create the final space, the designers have also made reference to the work of famous artists and architects, such as carlo scarpa and christo. in homage to antonello da messina’s masterpiece, the team has utilized classical architectural elements with a modern twist. arches, spheres, and curved forms come together to evoke a timeless spatial quality. 

the long, rectangular floor plan is divided, yet connected, by a series of columns and curved walls. thanks to the permeability afforded by the columns, natural light is able to filter through into the entire interior. inspired by artist christo, and his wrapping of monumental buildings, the surfaces of the office are finished in a unified white paint, highlighting the materiality and sculptural sense of the space while endowing it with a quiet sophistication. 

given the tall ceiling height, EVD has also carefully considered the vertical plane of the main circulation to create a more interesting spatial experience. users can experience different scenes at different heights and varying details along the circulation. the designers also took the idea of garden as the imagery of these spatial scenes. the passages, carpets and adornments are, respectively, the metaphors for garden paths, stones and plants.