The textile manufacturing company’s workplace features a cave-like interior and bold pops of colour
Architecture and design practice MMC Design has recently completed the 310 sq metre office and exhibition space for Hangzhou textile manufacturing company Springair, which takes a philosophical approach to design.
The new workspace creates a harmonious bridge between the real and virtual worlds we occupy. “When we approached the project, we thought about what kind of workspace would enable its users to focus on working while also reflecting on life”, say the architects of what inspired the design.
Upon entering the space, workers are greeted with office greenery, used to help reduce stress and increase productivity. Giving a new lease of life to employees and Springair’s working environment, MMC Design also employed a variety of materials to further enhance wellbeing.
While a ball, placed just beside the entrance wall, echoes Sisyphus’s rock in Greek myth, all sculptures chosen for the entrance reference ancient philosophy. Producing a serene spatial atmosphere inside an otherwise busy office, the works of art encourage contemplation of art and life.
Walking further into the space, employees will reach ‘Plato’s Cave’, complemented by a curvy ceiling and light that endow the interior with a calming feeling. The spatial structures, featuring geometric shapes, are inspired by a much-loved children’s toy – building blocks – to create a playful interior with a somewhat whimsical feel.
The workbench, which references Ariadne’s thread that helped Theseus find his way out of the labyrinth in Greek mythology, is coated in a bright red hue, adding a smooth touch and splash of colour to an otherwise dark and mysterious space.
A grey hue, highlighted by various bold splashes of red throughout, dominates the interior design, allowing employees to cocoon themselves from the outside world. Storage spaces, meanwhile, are converted into further ‘micro caves’ within the larger cave, so the stored objects naturally become components of the space which are neatly hidden away.
MMC Design’s attention to detail is evident in the smaller details, including carefully placed staircase-like blocks, rich layers and how light and shadow accentuate the space to create an inviting atmosphere where workers can immerse themselves into a dreamy spatial journey that transcends time.
Images by Pan Jie David
