Constantin Brodzki's Modernist Building Transformed into Co-Working Spaces with James Bond Vibe
Going East has reconstructed a most iconic building in Belgium into a co-working office. Located in Brussels, Fosbury & Sons transforms the headquarters building of Constantin Brodzki's CBR Modernist cement company built in the 1970s. The architecture of this building is certainly not like an ordinary office building, this old building looks attractive with a distinctive facade and has 756 dramatic oval-shaped windows with curved prefabricated concrete panels.
This old building looks attractive with 756 oval-shaped windows on the façade
The reconstruction and renovation process is focused on interior spaces, designed by Michiel Martens and Anais Torfs from Studio Going East that aim to create an atmosphere inside the space that feels like a hotel or residence rather than feeling like an office. Michiel Martens admitted to facing challenges in the process of working on this building, that’s how to make each floor feel special with the aim of each user feeling happy and comfortable when in the room but still maintaining the original character of the building.
The interior of Fosbury & Sons
The concrete pillars and walls were deliberately left exposed and perfected with decorations by Florian Tomballe
Some interior elements are custom-made as part of the design, such as marble tables, concrete stairs, wooden furniture, and lighting, one of them a chandelier. The interior elements applied are expected to add perfection to the room, such as furniture that uses wood materials and upholstered sofas that increasingly make the atmosphere of the room feel warm and comfortable, pillars and concrete walls deliberately left exposed perfected by greenery decoration give a natural impression and gives coolness in the room.
Chandeliers are specially designed to add perfection to Fosbury & Sons
In addition to private office space and shared office space, Fosbury & Sons has luxurious facilities. There is plenty of space throughout this building. For example, the lobby and bar on the ground floor become the perfect place to work and meet people in a pleasant environment and trigger worker productivity. The Co-working also provides 15 best meeting rooms, an auditorium capable of accommodating 75 people with a large screen and there is a bar and restaurant on the 8th floor with beautiful views of the Sonian forest. Overall, Fosbury & Sons can accommodate up to 600 workers and 250 companies, which retained the characteristics of the original building in appreciation to Constantin Brodzki.
Relaxing sofa with white cloth dressing
Floor plan of Fosbury & Sons
Softie The Cloud House | OPA Interior Design Studio
Recently OPA Interior Design Studio redesigned a house near San Francisco. Presenting a cloud-like shape, this house features bold white walls and a wavy ceiling.
bench area covered by thick walls and soft ceiling
The owner of this three-story house recruited OPA to create an interior that could represent “a release from the fit with the outside world”.
entrance floor that fits the interior concept
From that concept, a local studio began designing the building by incorporating a series of unusual and billowing shapes into the room, earning the project the nickname Softie.
soft and unique curve shape
“Clouds spread freely throughout the house and dissolve and soften them in different ways. They erode and cloud the fabric of rational modernist networks thereby creating the impression of floating space.” the studio said.
the soft texture of walls and ceilings
On the Softie's front door, a cloud refers to a series of protruding stairs leading to the interior.
The interior of the house is lined with architectural features that slope on top of the existing structural shell of the house to minimize disturbance.
curved corners of the room
Part of the ceiling at the entrance has been reshaped and now droops downwards to form a thick corner where owners can relax during the day in peace.
shrouded pillar shape
The canopy is interspersed with several amorphous openings to provide views of the adjacent living room.
canopy shape like a cloud wave
A similar thick corner has been built into the main bathroom, where it houses a self-contained circular tub.
bathtub with a rounded shape in the corner of a thick bathroom wall
On an outdoor terrace with a cloud-shaped canopy, owners are treated to panoramic views of San Francisco's Richardson Bay. The open roof structure is made of interlocking aluminum sheets, while the interior is made of foam blocks, MDF, and plywood.
intersecting and corrugated aluminum sheets
first to third-floor plans softie's house
softie house pieces
DAGA Architects Invites People to “Escape” from the Earth Through Shanghai Metal Hands Coffee
A coffee shop in Shanghai has become a hot topic due to its very unusual interior design. Representing itself as a space object, Shanghai Metal Hands Coffee is a place for humans who plan to "escape" from the "earth" that is damaged and on the verge of destruction.
Inside the cafe, placed a round object resembling a spaceship, with lots of floating greenery filling the room. DAGA Architects places the object like a crashed plane onboard by a human who is looking for a new place to live that resembles the earth. This coffee shop is analogous to a habitable planet that has the availability of oxygen so that it can create a new life in the future.
The coffee table is an evolution of a polished second-hand airplane capsule designed to suit the needs of the cafe. Equipped with lights from the hatch cover that illuminate the entire coffee-making area while adding to the impression of the mystery of space. This room is also equipped with two large windows for light circulation.
To enjoy the coffee, visitors can choose to sit inside or outside the capsule with a view that is presented as if they are exploring space using a shuttle. When visitors sit in low chairs, they will feel like they have landed on the surface of Mars, supported by metallic wooden box elements that further strengthen the atmosphere.
On the side of the window, there is a long table made of tree trunks suspended in the air overlooking the view of the tall buildings outside. This table is complemented by a mirror placed on the flat side of the table so that visitors can see a visual reflection of what they are doing on the table.
Ultimately, Shanghai Metal Hands Coffee is a space for time travel. Where the only thing that can be done is sipping a cup of coffee, as an act of "escape" from the damaged earth. Here, visitors are invited to empty their minds and enjoy moments of peace in the universe. Thus, through its interior design, this cafe combines the concepts of exploration and time travel.
Seoul Made Space Unites The People, Culture and Brands
It is undeniable, the development of the times is increasing, passive with discoveries of various kinds. Then, local wisdom that has become the identity of an area may become a legend in the future. Seoul Made Space by Collective B is a place that brings together culture, products, and industry in Seoul—South Korea.
Cultural rash entrance
Present in the creative era, this place was deliberately built as a complex cultural space. Seoul Made Space aims to introduce designs and brands that incorporate Seoul's identity, trends leading to Seoul's culture, and share and communicate Seoul's values.
Natural feel felt inside the Seoul Made Space
As a mixed-use building that combines cultural functions and interior co-work, Seoul Made is designed with the inherent identity of 'a meeting place of taste'. This is represented through a space that's intentionally vacated and lacks physical properties, then fills that void with taste.
Seoul Made Space applies the concept of industrial
Seoul Made's interior design actively displays naturalness and represents the industrial style. Thus, the design team uses materials that do not require further processing, aka the materials used are left unfinished. It aims to maintain the existing space as much as possible and respect the environment. In addition, to assist visitors in expressing the feelings that grow after entering this room.
Seoul Made Space has two sides as entrance
Movable modular shelving made of lightweight materials with minimal waste is applied to minimize fixed installation. To maximize the function of the room, the team also placed modular tables and chairs that can be stacked and arranged freely. “Buildweller” furniture is assembled using minimal materials to minimize wastage of resources.
Furniture "Buildweller" on Seoul Made Space
Upon entering this room, there are three main values that you want to communicate through Seoul Made Space; Spaces Where You Find Brands, Spaces Where You Experience Culture, and Spaces Where You Enjoy Community. To inspire visitors, several brands that originate from Seoul will be curated first and then a selected few will be displayed along with their history. Since the room is not very spacious, it will stimulate the sensitivity of each individual's taste so that they can experience the contents of Seoul's culture intensively.
Seoul Made Space is a community place open to everyone. Where the people, brands, and culture meet in one place that will expand and create creative ideas, spread good brand values, and communicate freely to share culture
Seoul Made Space is a space for people, brands, and cultures to meet in one place
