Y20 SPACE is located in the Hongyuan Park inside the famous Hangzhou XiXi Wetland and surrounded by charming natural scenery and profound historical culture. This area is attracting a large number of small and medium enterprises, such as investment companies, Internet Co, and many start-up companies. When the owner AIcai Technology found WJ Design, they did not just want a workplace, but more to create a space for office work, business conferences, activities, presentations and exhibitions.

After WJ Design learned the customer’s demand, they carried out the overall design of the space from the point of view of the positioning and functional requirements of the whole building. The original building is more like a sculpture, standing in the XiXi Wetland scenic spot for people to see. The challenge was going through their design ideas to create an atmosphere like WEWORK, making a difference from the traditional workspace in the neighborhood, meanwhile, they had to think how to create an attractive experience in this shared business space.

The landscape of the original main entrance of the building is very good, so WJ Design changed it into a sunken yard. With the surrounding white wall, it becomes a great place for people to spend their leisure time and enjoy the views of the landscape. The transparent glass wall makes the indoor space bright and brings an open vision for the people inside the building. The white exterior wall, the red seats, the light solid wood, the cement, and the plants bring a concept of modern simplicity.

The design team made a whole new entrance to the side of the building and made it like a channel as they wanted to convey a ritual sense of space, creating a time tunnel feeling. Walking through the channel, one can see an open interior space which brings a strong contrast between the narrow entrance and the bright open interior space.

Mix the Indoor and Outdoor Space

The whole construction is slightly thick, so white was used as its main tone for the indoor space and a lot of wood as the main material for interior decoration to create a sense of lightness. The original building itself is like a letter Y, so the streamline of the indoor space is designed to act in coordination with the building. The gray color and the original cement make the space simple and pure.

Due to the limitations of the construction, some parts of the interior space are relatively narrow and lack sunlight. The walls were changed into glass to make a connection between the indoor space and the outdoor environment and bring an open view for the people inside. Also, a lot of natural material was used to make the interior space an extension of the outdoor environment so people can feel the seasons change.

WJ Design thinks that design is not a skill, but a sense of perception and insight that captures the nature of things. The main concern is not the form, space or the image, but the users’ experience. Space is invisible but it is as rich as life and full of dynamic just like a breeze, you can’t see it but you can always feel it. This is a kind of new work environment experience that they always want to bring to people.

Details of the Space

The whole space of the building is very high, so the echo is too loud.  Sound-absorbing walls were used to make the space less noisy so people can avoid discomfort caused by the echo or resonate during daily activities. Some space was also preserved in the window area that is convenient and flexible for future demand.

The holes in the original building wall are well preserved. They are the windows to the beautiful views, just like eyes are the window of the soul.

The sunken chatting area makes the visual level closer to nature when you look at the outside landscape. And the fireplace brings warmth to space.

The quiet and warm atmosphere in Y20 Space is like a natural gift to let people inside explore and seek.

Data Sheet

Location: Hangzhou Zhejiang

Type: Office Space transformation

Area: 700m²

Completed: 2018.01

Client: Hangzhou Aicai Network Technology Co., Ltd

Design firm: WJ Design

Lead designer: Leo Hu

Team member: Xingbo Ying

Light: SIKI

Construction: Hangzhou Jiechuang Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.

Photo credits: Qiang Shen

About the designer 
Leo HU, Founder & design director of WJ Design. He graduated from China Academy of Art. He once worked at PROSHMA and GOA, also worked as technical director with Renzo Piano on Mr. Piano’s first project in China. In 2014, he founded WJ Design and leads the team to complete nearly one hundred projects in the last four years. His works have won a lot of international awards and participate in the INSIDE World Interior Design Award (2017–2018) for two consecutive years. He was awarded INSIDE Highly Commended (2018), Hong Kong. A&D Award (2018), Germany GDA Award (2017). He was named IDPA China-Japan International Pioneer Design Award – TOP10 International Most Influential Designer (2018), AD100 Elite Designer (2017).
 
His Concept
In the current diversified architectural design, modern buildings are more aggressive, without the presentation of the initial aesthetic feeling of a building. Leo believes that architecture is recognized by time and memory. The aesthetics of the Orientals pay more attention to the initial natural beauty expressed by things themselves rather than the expression of their forms, and so are buildings. When we want to express its original beauty, we need to think about the true meaning of architecture for us, and see the truth of the object. The concept “less is more” is about more discovery less artificial design.
 
His Awards 
2018 BO Space Highly Commended by the INSIDE AWARDS. Y20 Space is the shortlisted of 2018 INSIDE awards on office category.
2018 Y20 Space is honored by A&D Trophy Awards
2018 Y20 Space and Bo Space are honored by A&D China Awards
2018 TOP 10 of the Most Influential Designer of IDPA, Y20 space won the International Design Award Office & Culture Space SILVER
2018 The CREDAWARD， Real Estate Design Award，Gongchen Bund Center of Xihu won the EXCELLENT AWARD
2017 Elite List of “AD100”
2017 GDA (German Design Awards)，MISA Studio won one of the most prestigious international awards in architectural design.
2017 MISA Studio was shortlisted by the INSIDE World Interior Festival Award at the WAF