Working, but living as well | Yushe Design Company

“When becoming our own clients, we feel free to test our ideas, to create working spaces which wholly define who wo are, how we design, and what we stand for.”

Chinese architecture firm  Yushe Design has unveiled its new office in downtown Shanghai, where a variety of spaces that range from private phone booths to a small cat house are created to emphasize family-like atmosphere.

 “When we talk about working place, we are talking about home. The office of the future should represent such a lifestyle of young people," said  Yushe  Design co-founder Xu Yi.

To achieve this, the 700-square-metre space is divided according to function by a long terrazzo-tile-floor walkway into three types of spaces: working zone, meeting rooms and common space, intended to provide a family-like work environment that perfectly balances between the public and private spaces, which allow employees to focus on working and enhance communication.

Sofas scattered amongst the desks, the communal dinning area which can be flexibly used for salon or afternoon tea, and leisure area resembles a living room with distinguished designers and custom-made furniture all provide a delicate space for employees to stop and take a break, have casual conversations, spontaneous collaborations or informal meetings.

The entrance to the office is two sliding glass doors, through which a rectangular space cut by terrazzo piece of division wall which forms a view frame comes into sight at first glance.

The entry corridor flanked by front desk on the left and a ‘sitting room’ on the right invites a rest, behind which couches and table sit on a cool color carpet, combined with hanging lights and changing sunlight through windows, becoming the space of relaxation.

The room's narrow layout allows ample light to reach each desk.

Above, a network of tube steel members, inter-wined with the exposed ductwork, forms a system for lighting and ventilation.

An abundance of green plants is also scattered throughout the space, contrasting with the industrial interiors.

The co-founders’ offices were to create a private workspace where they could focus on work but also invite friends and partners to share ideas. A palette of wood and plaster in muted tones creates a formal yet home-like environment that is more akin to a lounge than an office.

The second leisure space centres on a round coffee table and features wooden IBRIDE FAUSTO shelving, as well as plush black couch and a hint of velvet green.

"The interior architecture is minimalist but thoughtful, with attention to every detail," said the architects. "Every single tone, form and material has been carefully selected to create a harmonious, precise and comfortable working environment just like home."

Small phone booths are designed to be comparatively private place where employees can have phone calls, read a book, or just sit down, let silence take over for a while. It is adjacent to a small cat house.

"The aim of our design is to blur the boundaries between work and home, find balance between freedom and restraint, between order and autonomy," said Yushe Architects. "Our vision is to look beyond sight. We want to create spaces that feel good in every way. "They added.

The boundary between home and society is blurred by the rise of the sharing economy, nomad workers and technology. Our lives are fragmented and can not be accommodated by a fixed layout, therefore more and more Chinese employees are seeking a more comfortable work place just like home.

Yushe Design has worked on several co-working projects in Shanghai, including a renovation of a 1920s former celebrity residence. They explained the interest in office renovation development is growing rapidly in China.