In the historic neighbourhood of Hongkou, a district in Shanghai known for its compact alleyway houses called lilongs, Yatofu Creatives designed a dynamic workplace for INMEDIA, a Shanghai-based creative consultancy.
With a vision to create a workspace that embodies versatility and innovation, Yatofu embarked upon designing a dynamic environment that not only caters to diverse work styles but also mirrors the forward-thinking essence of the company.
Seeking inspiration from the legacy of lilongs and colourful alleys of Southern Europe, the design reimagines the office setting as a lively, community-based workspace. The layout is planned in two zones representing the interior and exterior of alleyways, drawing reference from Southern Europe.
A wooden-clad structure accommodates private offices and meeting rooms, illustrating the houses that line the bustling alleyways with openings offering glimpses of the activities within. In contrast to the subtlety of the wood, the ‘exterior’ area is clad in glossy crimson tiles juxtaposed against raw concrete.
Bespoke table lamps dot the edges, serving as pedestrian streetlamps. Additionally, throughout the space, dynamic seating arrangements are scattered along the winding paths, providing privacy and an array of possibilities for different types of work.
Running alongside a wall adorned with glazed windows, a naturally lit corridor not only provides a tranquil space for relaxation and rejuvenation but also doubles as an informal meeting spot, offering employees a versatile and inviting area to gather and collaborate.
In conclusion, in crafting the design of INMEDIA's office, Yatofu embraces an unconventional architectural typology, shunning generic office layouts in favour of a space that fosters serendipitous encounters and blurs the lines between individual and communal areas. By adopting this unique format, their new workspace cultivates a strong sense of community and shared purpose among its inhabitants.
