Turning old into new – we transform a disused department store in Shanghai into a vibrant community space

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang

Shanghai / 2018–2019

Turning old into new – we transform a disused department store in Shanghai into a vibrant community space

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang

Shanghai / 2018–2019


SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Coworking spaces such as SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang are places that buzz with energy. Where the unexpected forms part of your daily agenda. For China’s millennials, the country’s largest demographic by far, they are work environments for new encounters – places where you can meet interesting people and create new things together. It is a way to come into contact with other talented people, mavericks, movers and doers, who could perhaps become your next coworkers or business partners. Our transformation of a Shanghai department store from the 1980s makes a stimulating contribution to this subject – and with it, to the future of the work environment. The client commissioning this project was SOHO China, the country’s largest private real estate developer, which has already made a name for itself with its spectacular construction projects.

Millennials search for work environment
China has an impressive number of young people with a drive to move things forward and a need for a modern and inspiring work environment from which to do so. At the same time, the country has a great deal of outdated building stock that no longer complies with today’s use and quality requirements. There is enormous potential in rediscovering and converting these large spaces for a new kind of use: the city’s unused building blocks are becoming revitalised and the new way of working together is finding an environment outside of conventional office typologies.

The heart of the building - the campus
In Wujiaochang, a trendy district with numerous shopping malls near Shanghai University, the opportunity arose to transform a disused department store with 14,000 square metres and five levels into this kind of dynamic workspace. Via the two-level campus on the ground floor, the energy of the coworking space connects with the pulse of the city. The campus forms the centrepiece of the building: a two-level community hub designed for business talks, presentations, formal and spontaneous meetings, and a place to have coffee. A new spiral staircase makes a bold sculptural gesture, connecting all upper floors and ensuring that creative community life continues on every level.

Communication offers on all floors
On each of the five levels, users are welcomed in a central reception area. Around the reception area is grouped a diverse array of communication areas: small and large conference rooms, cafeterias and more concentrated work spaces, such as small conference niches, alcoves and acoustically shielded telephone booths. Separate private offices in denominations of two to 30 workstations offer an easily scalable, flexible work environment for a total of 2.500 people.

A place of longing for professional ambitions
The design language mirrors the energy of the coworking ethos: terrazzo floors, open ceilings and wooden surfaces teamed with bold colours create an inspiring yet engaging atmosphere for a target group that is always on the move. In order to zone such a large area into identifiable spaces, each level is dedicated to a well-known personality, who effected a revolutionary change in perception in their particular field of endeavour: portraits of Ieoh Ming Pei, Steve Jobs, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison decorate the walls and give each level its unique identity. Individual graphic and colour concepts provide a further means of differentiation. The five levels thereby become work havens for your particular professional ambitions.

Categories

Awards

  • 2020 / iF DESIGN AWARD
    Award – Interior design - Co-working space
  • 2019 / Best of Year Awards – Interior Design Magazine
    Winner «Co Working Space»

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Coworking spaces are workplaces for new encounters – places where you can meet interesting people and create new things together.


SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Each level is dedicated to a well-known figure, who effected revolutionary change in their field of endeavour. Their portraits decorate the walls and give each level its unique identity.


SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

The five levels thereby become work havens for your particular professional ambitions.

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

SOHO 3Q WuJiaoChang, Shanghai. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
Client
  • SOHO China Ltd.
Location
  • Shanghai
Status
  • Project (2018–2019)
Categories
Photography
  • Sui Sicong
  • CreatAR Image
Team
  • Kim Angenendt
  • Ruth Calimlim
  • Halil Dogan
  • Gunter Fleitz
  • Wei Gao
  • Lena Grzib
  • Jonathan Hernandez
  • Peiyu Ho 何培瑜
  • Peter Ippolito
  • Axel Knapp
  • Tim Lessmann
  • Kanru Liu
  • Jose Miso
  • Mario Rodriguez
  • Carolin Stusak
  • David Tong
  • Yu Yan 颜钰
  • Wenso Yang 杨文硕
  • Dirk Zschunke
Partner
  • Arcplus Shanghai Xiandai (Local Design Institute)
Copyright
  • Ippolito Fleitz Group