“Shanghai based practice Taranta Creations has designed their own studio located in Shanghai, China. The design is a reflection of the ongoing creative process within the studio. The intervention seeks to provide an adaptable space that supports a range of informal functions.

The office is situated in a former metal factory. The existing diagonal steel structure was causing difficulties to fulfill the wish of the studio to create two floors. The distance between the structure and ceiling was too less for a traditional office layout of floor and tables. Therefore a floor is created just above the steel structure. Four working stations are placed in the space between the steel profiles. This way the floor is transformed to one continuous desk, while the four recessed stations provide a more traditional workspace. The large ‘work floor’ invites the designers to use the open space for thinking, sketching, meeting, drafting, modeling, sitting and relaxing. This informal interpretation of office space encourages cross-pollination between the different projects and disciplines occurring within the studio.

On the lower floor the individual workstations are placed along the window. A green sculptural table can be used for communal activities. Informal and contoured, the central staircase is reminiscent of a large droplet of water ready to fall from the ceiling. Upon entering the stairway, a highly saturated environment of bright red engulfs and surrounds the individual, starkly marking the transition between the contrasting office areas. The color is repeated on the second floor as an accent to highlight the recessed work areas. ”

Photos from Architizer

“The space has undergone a transformation to make it more functional as an architectural studio. The entrance is remarkable: a mastaba-shaped passageway that is completely clad with lengths of sheep’s wool and is set in a new, wall-to-wall glazed facade. In the studio to the rear there is another wool-covered mastaba, accommodating various back-office functions. The design has come about in cooperation with Foppe van Meer and CHNL architecten.

The studio’s interior is a combination of off-the-peg products, by Moooi, Vitra and Miller, and custom-made design. In the conference room stands a spacious, oval conference table, designed by Sarah Trenité of Haarlem- based ARP Design. Large dishes of blue glass, designed by Wilfried van Winden and realised by the artist Bernard Heesen, hover above it.

On the wall there are two works of art from the ‘Cosmopolitan Chicken Project’ series by the Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen. The studio can be subdivided using free-standing, mobile acoustic cabinets, a design by Foppe van Meer.

WAM architecten commissioned the well-known Dutch visual artist/designer Frank Bruggeman to design a remarkable bookcase that occupies a prominent place in the bureau’s office. The WAM library is a perpetual source of inspiration and therefore stands at the heart of the office.

The library is an ensemble of three cases, each built up from a modular stack of separate elements on a wooden pallet. The bookcases can be moved with ease using a pallet jack. This flexible concept is in keeping with the bureau’s design and layout: nothing is permanent. Bruggeman has for many years been using the same shade of bright blue. Wilfried van Winden also acquired a work of art by Bruggeman comprised of majestically stacked vases for the new office.”

One of the necessary structural additions was to expand the building’s footprint, using bricks of a similar size and style to the original building. When completed, the interior was given a great painted white ceiling that fits in well against the red.

The main office area houses employees in an open-plan layout, though plenty of thought was given to effectively having employees collaborate either formally through conference style rooms, or informally at seating areas throughout.

With a successful practice, the company has decided to engage new talent through allowing the use of sections of their facility:

“Our philosophy of engagement and collaboration inspired us to initiate a program to support emerging design professionals by providing incubator space within the studio. We also offer ongoing financial commitment and display space to local artists through a rotating program of exhibitions, complemented by an active program of internal, industry and community events.”

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Their office, which has plenty of natural light, has a wonderful atmosphere that allows employees to thrive. Typically, music is playing, which could be anything from Zen meditation tones to a Disco Remix of Beethoven’s 5th. The center of the space has a design library build from high-grade osb, which is becoming a very popular material in office buildouts as it offers a raw and unique look.

The space looks to have a few IKEA pieces, and has the workstations separated from the collaborative areas by glass panels. Interestingly enough, the desk chairs are not your typical style either, with the white scoop chairs matching the white furnishings. Lastly, the light fixtures look great and keep the place very evenly lit.

Photographer: Nikos Stefanis

Located at 2nd and Bryant, in a great building, which coincidentally was renovated by them, the offices sit on the ground floor with huge windows that look out into a wonderful patio area. The space itself is separated into two levels, with workstations on both, and a great conference space on the ground level. The conference space is hidden behind two huge monolithic doors that rotate open and are magnetically held open.

There is a lot of wood, metal, brickwork throughout the space, which gives it a great old-warehouse feel. There is also a bike storage area in the back that hold bike in the air, suspended by cabling. In one area of the office, there are balsa models displayed, and in another, a model creating station. Lastly, the office has two cats, which are definitely a first for any office I’ve ever seen, but David, the founder rescued them and decided to give them a home. One employee mentioned that the best part about them is that they are quiet. They are also fond of catching bird on the patio.