AIM architecture creates vibrant shared office for SOHO 3Q in beijing

given 25,000m2 of empty space, the studio was tasked with transforming the mall into a vibrant office to serve as the first location of SOHO's '3Q' brand.

Beili Peng edited by peter corboy February 2, 2016 2 min

AIM architecture creates vibrant shared office for SOHO 3Q in beijing

shanghai-based architecture firm AIM was approached by chinese real estate developer SOHO with a unique challenge. given 25,000m² of empty space, the studio was tasked with transforming the existing mall into a hip, vibrant co-working office to serve as the first location of SOHO’s new ‘3Q’ brand.

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main theatre
all images by jerry yin / courtesy of SOHO 3Q

a strategy was created placing bold at the top of the brief, and a variety of bright colors and funky patterns were chosen to add some life to the drab retail-oriented skeleton. AIM soon found that the constraints of the location’s former life could be manipulated into something better. a shopping centre corridor served as a perfect place for a co-op workspace island, and two massive atriums were repurposed to be the project’s primary focal points.

AIM architecture shared office SOHO 3Q beijing china
basement level entrance theatre

in the first atrium, a colossal oak staircase spills from the ground-floor entrance into the basement. the element frames the lower level — with help from additional stairwells on either side — turning it into a venue ideal for lectures, events, or quick meetings and break time. the second skylight was re-imagined as ‘the park’, where more relaxed seating is accompanied by bamboo trees, a green textured floor, and close proximity to on-site eating. ‘3Q beijing’ accommodates more than 3,600 individual desks, effectively reclaiming the commercial space as a neighborhood for co-existence, collaboration, and multi-faceted interaction.

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the ‘park’

AIM architecture shared office SOHO 3Q beijing china
looking down on the ‘park’ atrium

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workspaces on ground-level

AIM architecture shared office SOHO 3Q beijing china
the location has more than 3,600 desks available

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looking down from first floor into basement

soho3qdesignboom02 entrance

AIM architecture shared office SOHO 3Q beijing china
first floor relaxed meeting space

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basement open office

AIM architecture shared office SOHO 3Q beijing china second floor proximity meeting area

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